Psalms25
King James Version · Public Domain
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.
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Psalms 25Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 25. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Confidence in prayer. (1–7). Prayer for remission of sins. (8–14). For help in affliction. (15–22).
vv1-7
In worshipping God, we must lift up our souls to him. It is certain that none who, by a believing attendance, wait on God, and, by a believing hope, wait for him, shall be ashamed of it. The most advanced believer both needs and desires to be taught of God. If we sincerely desire to know our duty, with resolution to do it, we may be sure that God will direct us in it. The psalmist is earnest for the pardon of his sins. When God pardons sin, he is said to remember it no more, which denotes full remission. It is God's goodness, and not ours, his mercy, and not our merit, that must be our plea for the pardon of sin, and all the good we need. This plea we must rely upon, feeling our own unworthiness, and satisfied of the riches of God's mercy and grace. How boundless is that mercy which covers for ever the sins and follies of a youth spent without God and without hope! Blessed be the Lord, the blood of the great Sacrifice can wash away every stain.
vv8-14
We are all sinners; and Christ came into the world to save sinners, to teach sinners, to call sinners to repentance. We value a promise by the character of him that makes it; we therefore depend upon God's promises. All the paths of the Lord, that is, all his promises and all his providences, are mercy and truth. In all God's dealings his people may see his mercy displayed, and his word fulfilled, whatever afflictions they are now exercised with. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth; and so it will appear when they come to their journey's end. Those that are humble, that distrust themselves, and desire to be taught and to follow Divine guidance, these he will guide in judgment, that is, by the rule of the written word, to find rest for their souls in the Saviour. Even when the body is sick, and in pain, the soul may be at ease in God.
vv15-22
The psalmist concludes, as he began, with expressing dependence upon God, and desire toward him. It is good thus to hope, and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. And if God turns to us, no matter who turns from us. He pleads his own integrity. Though guilty before God, yet, as to his enemies, he had the testimony of conscience that he had done them no wrong. God would, at length, give Israel rest from all their enemies round about. In heaven, God's Israel will be perfectly redeemed from all troubles. Blessed Saviour, thou hast graciously taught us that without thee we can do nothing. Do thou teach us how to pray, how to appear before thee in the way which thou shalt choose, and how to lift up our whole hearts and desires after thee, for thou art the Lord our righteousness.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
נָשָׂא: to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
בָּטַח: figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure
אַל: not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
בּוּשׁ: properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
אֹיֵב: hating; an adversary
עָלַץ: to jump for joy, i.e. exult
גַּם: properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
Cross References
Psalms 25Direct verbal link where the phrase 'lift up my soul' is repeated with identical spiritual meaning.
Supported by JFB
Jesus directly quotes the promise of 'inheriting the earth'/land which is promised here to the meek.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Direct thematic parallel where the 'secret' (communion) of the Lord is with the righteous/them that fear him.
Supported by JFB
The Hebrew idiom of 'setting/lifting up the soul' denotes earnest desire, expectation, and hope in prayer.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The foundational theological promise that trust in God (hope) will never result in being put to shame.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels the specific and poignant dread of inheriting and being punished for the sins of one's youth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
A communal parallel of remembering/confessing the shameful sins of youth from early years onward.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the character of the true worshipper who does not lift up his soul to vanity.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Equates being led in God's truth with choosing the way of truth and keeping His precepts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Christ reveals His 'secrets' to His disciples, exemplifying covenant communion and friendship.
Supported by JFB
David's adjacent plea of walking in integrity while trusting in the Lord without wavering.
Supported by JFB
Zacharias celebrates the performative fulfillment of God's ancient 'holy covenant' and 'tender mercy'.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament parallel: those willing to do God's will (the meek) will receive spiritual discernment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The recurring metaphorical 'net' laid by enemies from which God delivers the faithful.
Supported by JFB
Identical vocabulary of pleading for mercy strictly according to God's lovingkindness and tender mercies.
Supported by Matthew Henry