Psalms 25

General context

The speaker lifts up his soul to the Lord and says he trusts in his God, asking not to be ashamed and that his enemies not triumph over him; he asks that none who wait on the Lord be ashamed, but that those who transgress without cause be ashamed. He asks the Lord to show him his ways, teach him his paths and lead him in his truth, since the Lord is the God of his salvation on whom he waits all the day. He asks the Lord to remember his tender mercies and lovingkindnesses, which have been of old, and not to remember the sins of his youth or his transgressions. He states that the Lord is good and upright and therefore teaches sinners in the way, that he guides and teaches the meek, and that all his paths are mercy and truth to those who keep his covenant and testimonies. He asks pardon for his iniquity, for it is great, for the Lord's name's sake. He asks what man fears the Lord: that man will be taught in the way he should choose, his soul will dwell at ease, his seed will inherit the earth, and the secret of the Lord is with those who fear him. His eyes are ever toward the Lord, who will pluck his feet out of the net. He asks the Lord to turn to him and have mercy, since he is desolate and afflicted and the troubles of his heart are enlarged; to look on his affliction and pain and forgive all his sins; to consider his many enemies who hate him with cruel hatred; to keep his soul and deliver him, and to let integrity and uprightness preserve him. The last line asks God to redeem Israel out of all his troubles.

Cited passages: Psalms 25:1, Psalms 25:2, Psalms 25:3, Psalms 25:4, Psalms 25:5, Psalms 25:6, Psalms 25:7, Psalms 25:8, Psalms 25:9, Psalms 25:10, Psalms 25:11, Psalms 25:12, Psalms 25:13, Psalms 25:14, Psalms 25:15, Psalms 25:16, Psalms 25:17, Psalms 25:18, Psalms 25:19, Psalms 25:20, Psalms 25:21, Psalms 25:22

Psalms 25 (KJV)

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Historical context

The text as printed carries no heading, so no author, occasion or instrument is stated in this source. The speaker is a single "I" addressing the Lord, except that verses 8-10 and 12-15 speak about the Lord in the third person; the last verse widens to "Israel", the only proper name in the psalm. The enemies are said to be many and to hate "with cruel hatred", but nothing states who they are or what they have done, and "the net" of verse 15 is an image with no trap described. The speaker admits wrongdoing three times, "the sins of my youth", "mine iniquity; for it is great" and "all my sins", and in the same psalm asks that "integrity and uprightness preserve me"; the text sets the two side by side without explaining how they fit. "His covenant and his testimonies" are named without citing any particular command. Waiting on the Lord is stated three times, and no answer or outcome is reported. There is no Selah.

Cited passages: Psalms 25:1, Psalms 25:22, Psalms 25:19, Psalms 25:15, Psalms 25:7, Psalms 25:11, Psalms 25:18, Psalms 25:21, Psalms 25:10, Psalms 25:3, Psalms 25:5

Literary context

The psalm moves in short petitions rather than a single argument, and the same requests return: not to be ashamed (verses 2, 3, 20), to be taught and led (4, 5, 8, 9, 12), to be remembered and pardoned (6, 7, 11, 18). Way and path are its main image, "thy ways", "thy paths", "the way", "his way", "all the paths of the Lord", "the way that he shall choose", set against "the net" that would catch the feet. Two passages about the Lord in the third person (8-10, 12-15) interrupt the direct address and read like answers the speaker gives himself before returning to petition. The sinner, the meek and the man who fears the Lord are the three figures the Lord is said to teach. Affliction gathers toward the end, desolate, afflicted, troubles enlarged, distresses, affliction and pain, and then the plea to keep and deliver. The final verse steps outside the "I" to Israel, so the psalm closes on the people's troubles rather than the speaker's own.

Cited passages: Psalms 25:2, Psalms 25:20, Psalms 25:4, Psalms 25:9, Psalms 25:12, Psalms 25:15, Psalms 25:8, Psalms 25:16, Psalms 25:17, Psalms 25:22

Key moments

1. Lifting up the soul (Psalms 25:1). The speaker lifts up his soul to the Lord and asks not to be ashamed.
2. Shew me thy ways (Psalms 25:4). He asks the Lord to show him his ways and teach him his paths.
3. Sins of youth (Psalms 25:7). He asks the Lord not to remember the sins of his youth but to remember him in mercy.
4. Pardon, for it is great (Psalms 25:11). He asks pardon for his iniquity for the Lord's name's sake.
5. Feet out of the net (Psalms 25:15). His eyes are toward the Lord, who will pluck his feet out of the net.
6. Many enemies, cruel hatred (Psalms 25:19). He asks the Lord to consider his many enemies who hate him with cruel hatred.
7. Redeem Israel (Psalms 25:22). The last line asks God to redeem Israel out of all his troubles.

For reflection

The speaker asks that integrity and uprightness preserve him a few lines after calling his iniquity great and asking pardon for all his sins; what does the psalm treat as the ground of its confidence?

People in this chapter

• David
• Jacob