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(By David.)

A Prayer for Guidance and Help

I offer you my heart, Lord God,
    and I trust you.
Don't make me ashamed
    or let enemies defeat me.
Don't disappoint any
    of your worshipers,
but disappoint all
    deceitful liars.
Show me your paths
    and teach me to follow;
guide me by your truth
    and instruct me.
You keep me safe,
    and I always trust you.

Please, Lord, remember,
you have always
    been patient and kind.
Forget each wrong I did
    when I was young.
Show how truly kind you are
    and remember me.
You are honest and merciful,
and you teach sinners
    how to follow your path.

You lead humble people
to do what is right
    and to stay on your path.
10 In everything you do,
    you are kind and faithful
to everyone who keeps
    our agreement with you.

11 Be true to your name, Lord,
by forgiving each one
    of my terrible sins.
12 You will show the right path
    to all who worship you.
13 Then they will have plenty,
and their children
    will receive the land.

14 Our Lord, you are the friend
    of your worshipers,
and you make an agreement
    with all of us.
15 I always look to you,
because you rescue me
    from every trap.
16 I am lonely and troubled.
Show that you care
    and have pity on me.
17 My awful worries keep growing.
    Rescue me from sadness.
18 See my troubles and misery
    and forgive my sins.

19 Look at all my enemies!
    See how much they hate me.
20 I come to you for shelter.
Protect me, keep me safe,
    and don't disappoint me.
21 I obey you with all my heart,
and I trust you, knowing
    that you will save me.

22 Our God, please save Israel
    from all its troubles.

Psalm 25[a]

Of David.

In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.(A)

I trust in you;(B)
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,(C)
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous(D) without cause.

Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.(E)
Guide me in your truth(F) and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,(G)
    and my hope is in you(H) all day long.
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(I)
    for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth(J)
    and my rebellious ways;(K)
according to your love(L) remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.(M)

Good and upright(N) is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs(O) sinners in his ways.
He guides(P) the humble in what is right
    and teaches them(Q) his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful(R)
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.(S)
11 For the sake of your name,(T) Lord,
    forgive(U) my iniquity,(V) though it is great.

12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?(W)
    He will instruct them in the ways(X) they should choose.[b]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,(Y)
    and their descendants will inherit the land.(Z)
14 The Lord confides(AA) in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known(AB) to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,(AC)
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.(AD)

16 Turn to me(AE) and be gracious to me,(AF)
    for I am lonely(AG) and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles(AH) of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.(AI)
18 Look on my affliction(AJ) and my distress(AK)
    and take away all my sins.(AL)
19 See how numerous are my enemies(AM)
    and how fiercely they hate me!(AN)

20 Guard my life(AO) and rescue me;(AP)
    do not let me be put to shame,(AQ)
    for I take refuge(AR) in you.
21 May integrity(AS) and uprightness(AT) protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[c] is in you.(AU)

22 Deliver Israel,(AV) O God,
    from all their troubles!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
  3. Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.