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Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon.

A Psalm of David.

25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in You I [have unwavering] trust [and I rely on You with steadfast confidence],
Do not let me be ashamed or my hope in You be disappointed;
Do not let my enemies triumph over me.

Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed;
Those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed).


Let me know Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.

Guide me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

Remember, O Lord, Your [tender] compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.


Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
10 
All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 
For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my wickedness and my guilt, for they are great.

12 
Who is the man who fears the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with submissive wonder]?
He will teach him [through His word] in the way he should choose.
13 
His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness,
And his descendants will inherit the land.
14 
The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.(A)
15 
My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will bring my feet out of the net.

16 
Turn to me [Lord] and be gracious to me,
For I am alone and afflicted.
17 
The troubles of my heart are multiplied;
Bring me out of my distresses.
18 
Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
19 
Look upon my enemies, for they are many;
They hate me with cruel and violent hatred.
20 
Guard my soul and rescue me;
Do not let me be ashamed or disappointed,
For I have taken refuge in You.
21 
Let integrity and uprightness protect me,
For I wait [expectantly] for You.
22 
O God, redeem Israel,
Out of all his troubles.

25 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

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.

Psalm 25

Dependence on the Lord

Davidic.

Lord,[a] I turn to You.[b](A)
My God, I trust in You.
Do not let me be disgraced;(B)
do not let my enemies gloat over me.(C)
No one who waits for You
will be disgraced;(D)
those who act treacherously without cause
will be disgraced.(E)

Make Your ways known to me, Lord;
teach me Your paths.(F)
Guide me in Your truth and teach me,(G)
for You are the God of my salvation;(H)
I wait for You all day long.(I)
Remember, Lord, Your compassion
and Your faithful love,
for they have existed from antiquity.[c](J)
Do not remember the sins of my youth(K)
or my acts of rebellion;(L)
in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me
because of Your goodness, Lord.(M)

The Lord is good and upright;(N)
therefore He shows sinners the way.(O)
He leads the humble in what is right(P)
and teaches them His way.(Q)
10 All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth
to those who keep His covenant and decrees.(R)
11 Because of Your name, Yahweh,
forgive my sin, for it is great.(S)

12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?(T)
He will show him the way he should choose.(U)
13 He will live a good life,
and his descendants will inherit the land.[d](V)
14 The secret counsel of the Lord
is for those who fear Him,
and He reveals His covenant to them.(W)
15 My eyes are always on the Lord,
for He will pull my feet out of the net.(X)

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am alone and afflicted.(Y)
17 The distresses of my heart increase;[e](Z)
bring me out of my sufferings.(AA)
18 Consider my affliction and trouble,(AB)
and take away all my sins.(AC)
19 Consider my enemies; they are numerous,(AD)
and they hate me violently.(AE)
20 Guard me and deliver me;(AF)
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in You.(AG)
21 May integrity and what is right
watch over me,
for I wait for You.(AH)

22 God, redeem Israel, from all its distresses.(AI)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 The lines of this poem form an acrostic.
  2. Psalm 25:1 Or To You, Lord, I lift up my soul
  3. Psalm 25:6 Or everlasting
  4. Psalm 25:13 Or earth
  5. Psalm 25:17 Or Relieve the distresses of my heart

25 1-2 My head is high, God, held high;
I’m looking to you, God;
No hangdog skulking for me.

I’ve thrown in my lot with you;
You won’t embarrass me, will you?
Or let my enemies get the best of me?

Don’t embarrass any of us
Who went out on a limb for you.
It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.

Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.

Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren’t you?

Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;
Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

Forget that I sowed wild oats;
Mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!

God is fair and just;
He corrects the misdirected,
Sends them in the right direction.

He gives the rejects his hand,
And leads them step-by-step.

10 From now on every road you travel
Will take you to God.
Follow the Covenant signs;
Read the charted directions.

11 Keep up your reputation, God;
Forgive my bad life;
It’s been a very bad life.

12 My question: What are God-worshipers like?
Your answer: Arrows aimed at God’s bull’s-eye.

13 They settle down in a promising place;
Their kids inherit a prosperous farm.

14 God-friendship is for God-worshipers;
They are the ones he confides in.

15 If I keep my eyes on God,
I won’t trip over my own feet.

16 Look at me and help me!
I’m all alone and in big trouble.

17 My heart and mind are fighting each other;
Call a truce to this civil war.

18 Take a hard look at my life of hard labor,
Then lift this ton of sin.

19 Do you see how many people
Have it in for me?
How viciously they hate me?

20 Keep watch over me and keep me out of trouble;
Don’t let me down when I run to you.

21 Use all your skill to put me together;
I wait to see your finished product.

22 God, give your people a break
From this run of bad luck.