Psalms 25:1-22
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 dwella 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 pluckb 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 cruelc 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.
DESCRIPTIVE TITLE
An Alphabetical Psalm of Supplication.
ANALYSIS
Seven lines of Direct Address to Jehovah, Psalms 25:1-7; three lines in Praise of Jehovah, Psalms 25:8-10; one line of Direct Address, Psalms 25:11; three lines Descriptive of him who Revereth Jehovah, Psalms 25:12-14; one line Concerning the Psalmist, Psalms 25:15; six lines of Direct Address, Psalms 25:16-21; and one line of Refrain, Psalms 25:22.
PSALM TWENTY-FIVE
(Lm.) By David.
1
Unto thee Jehovah my soul do I lift
oh let me not be put to shame.[238]
[238] So (w. Br.) transposed from Psalms 25:2. The redistribution of clauses speaks for itself.
2
In thee my God[239] have I trusted
[239] So Gt., by simple transposition bringing beth to beginning of line.
let not my foes exult over me.
3
Yea let none who wait for thee be put to shame
let them be put to shame who act covertly without cause.[240]
[240] Treacherously without effectBr.
4
Thy ways Jehovah let me know
thy paths teach thou me.
5
Guide me into thy truth and teach me
for thou art my saving[241] God.[242]
[241] Or: delivering.
[242] M.T. adds: for thee have I wanted all the day. Some cod. (w. Sep., Syr., Vul.) prefix waw=and (Gn.). Perh. relics of an original waw () stanza.
6
Remember thy compassions Jehovah and thy kindness
for from age-past times have they been.
7
The sins of my youth[243] do not remember
[243] M.T. adds: and my transgressions.
according to thy kindness remember thou me.
8
Good and upright is Jehovah
therefore will he direct[244] in the way.
[244] M.T, adds: sinners; but redundant in measure, and morally improbable.
9
He will guide humble ones to vindication
that he may teach humble ones his way.
10
All the paths of Jehovah are kindness and faithfulness[245]
[245] Or: truth.
to such as keep his covenant.[246]
[246] M.T. adds: and his testimonies.
11
For the sake of thy name Jehovah
therefore wilt thou pardon mine iniquity though it is great.
12
Who then is the man that revereth Jehovah?
he will direct him in the way he chooseth.
13
His soul with prosperity shall tarry[247]
[247] Or: be a guest.
and his seed shall possess the land.
14
The intimacy of Jehovah have they who revere him
even his covenant to let them know.
15
Mine eyes are continually unto Jehovah
for he bringeth forth out of the net[248] my soul.
[248] Too specificBr. Yet well suited to David or Hezekiah.
16
Turn unto me and be gracious unto me
for lonely and humbled am I.
17
The distresses of my heart oh relieve
and out of my straits bring me forth.
18
Come to the relief[249] of my humiliation and my travail
[249] So some critics (kara-'): supplying the missing koph, and obviating the M.T.'S repetition of resh.
and take away[250] all my sins.
[250] Or: grant forgiveness of.
19
See my foes for they have multiplied
and with the hatred of violence do they hate me.
20
Oh keep my soul and rescue me
let me not be put to shame for I take refuge in thee.
21
Let blamelessness[251] and uprightness[252] rescue[253] me
[251] Or: wholeheartedness, integrity.
[252] Or: straightforwardness. These two fundamental virtues he wishes to be his guardians on his wayDel.
[253] Prob. nzl as in prev. line, instead of nzr (in M.T.)
for O Jehovah I have waited for thee.
22
Ransom Israel O God out of all his distresses.[254]
[254] Cp. Psalms 34:22.
(Nm.)
PARAPHRASE
To You, O Lord, I pray!
2 Don-'t fail me, Lord, for I am trusting You. Don-'t let my enemies succeed. Don-'t give them victory over me.
3 None who have faith in God will ever be disgraced for trusting Him. But all who harm the innocent shall be defeated.
4 Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk.
5 Lead me; teach me; for You are the God who gives me salvation. I have no hope except in You.
6, 7 Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord! Look at me instead through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of ever-lasting love and kindness.
8 The Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray;
9 He will teach the ways that are right and best to those who humbly turn to Him.
10 And when we obey Him, every path He guides us on is fragrant with His lovingkindness and His truth.
11 But Lord, my sins! How many they are. Oh, pardon them for the honor of Your name.
12 Where is the man who fears the Lord? God will teach him how to choose the best!
13 He shall live within God's circle of blessing, and his children shall inherit the earth!
14 Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him. With them alone He shares the secrets of His promises.
15 My eyes are ever looking to the Lord for help, for He alone can rescue me.
16 Come, Lord, and show me Your mercy, for I am helpless, overwhelmed, in deep distress;
17 My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!
18 See my sorrows; feel my pain; forgive my sins.
19 See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me!
20 Save me from them! Deliver my life from their power! Oh, let it never be said that I trusted You in vain!
21 Assign me Godliness and Integrity as my bodyguards, for I expect You to protect me,
22 And to ransom Israel from all her troubles.
EXPOSITION
This psalm needs little expounding; but will repay devout meditation. It springs from a deep sense of need, and abounds in supplication. It is artificial in structure, and has many minute beauties. It was framed to help the memory when books were few. It suggests many literary and historical problems, some of which it helps to settle. Specially worthy of note is the fact that, although clearly alphabetical, one letter of the alphabet has been suppressed, presumably to make way for the refrain at the end, outside the acrostic arrangement, yet so as not to exceed the number twenty-two. Its companion psalm is the thirty-fourth: this being a psalm of petitionthat of praise. The refrains to these psalms are specially noticeable. The psalms themselves are private and individual; but the refrains reach out to public events in which all Israel are interested. Thus viewed, the two psalms become intensely dramatic; and lend themselves to thrilling events in Israel's ancient history. Cp. Thirtle, O.T.P., 107-8.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1.
The words of W. G. Scroggie help our understanding as to what is meant by an alphabetical psalm: Certain of the Psalms are in acrostic form, that is there is traceable in them an alphabetical succession in the initial letters of verses. As these Psalms have come down to us this arrangement is not always complete, but may have been so originally. The acrostic Psalms are 9-10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145.
2.
What is meant by the word ashamed in Psalms 25:2-3? Does this refer to embarrassment? Discuss.
3.
How did David or Hezekiah or whoever wrote this psalm imagine the requests to be taught and led would be answered?
4.
What are the sins of youth as compared with the sins of old age?
5.
The positive advantages in following and loving God are often here emphasised.how we need this emphasis! Obedience of God's law is the doorway into freedom of heart. How shall we convince men that this is true?
6.
Follow through this psalm with a list of man's responsibilities resulting in a list of God's blessingsDiscuss.