Psalms 25
King James Version (KJV) · English
1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord. 8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. 15 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Commentary — not Bible text
Psalms 25:1
PSALM 25
Psa 25:1-22. The general tone of this Psalm is that of prayer for help from enemies. Distress, however, exciting a sense of sin, humble confession, supplication for pardon, preservation from sin, and divine guidance, are prominent topics.
1. lift up my soul--(Psa 24:4; 86:4), set my affections (compare Col 3:2).
Psalms 25:2
2. not be ashamed--by disappointment of hopes of relief.
Psalms 25:3
3. The prayer generalized as to all who wait on God--that is, who expect His favor. On the other hand, the disappointment of the perfidious, who, unprovoked, have done evil, is invoked (compare 2Sa 22:9).
Psalms 25:4-5
4-5. On the ground of former favor, he invokes divine guidance, according to God's gracious ways of dealing and faithfulness.
Psalms 25:6-7
6-7. Confessing past and present sins, he pleads for mercy, not on palliations of sin, but on God's well-known benevolence.
Psalms 25:8-9
8-9. upright--acting according to His promise.
sinners--the general term, limited by the
meek--who are penitent.
the way--and his way--God's way of providence.
Psalms 25:10
10. paths--similar sense--His modes of dealing (compare Psa 25:4).
mercy and truth--(Job 14:1-22), God's grace in promising and faithfulness in performing.
Psalms 25:11
11. God's perfections of love, mercy, goodness, and truth are manifested (his name, compare Psa 9:10) in pardoning sin, and the greatness of sin renders pardon more needed.
Psalms 25:12-13
12-13. What he asks for himself is the common lot of all the pious.
Psalms 25:14
Psalms 25:15
Psalms 25:16-19
Psalms 25:20
Psalms 25:21
21. In conscious innocence of the faults charged by his enemies, he confidently commits his cause to God. Some refer--
integrity, &c.--to God, meaning His covenant faithfulness. This sense, though good, is an unusual application of the terms.
Psalms 25:22
22. Extend these blessings to all Thy people in all their distresses.
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