Psalm 25
English Standard Version
Teach Me Your Paths
[a] Of David.
25 To you, O Lord, I (A)lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I (B)trust;
(C)let me not be put to shame;
(D)let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, (E)none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are (F)wantonly (G)treacherous.
4 (H)Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your (I)truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
6 Remember your (J)mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
(K)for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not (L)the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your (M)steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 (N)Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he (O)instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are (P)steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For your (Q)name's sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is (R)great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
Him (S)will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall (T)abide in well-being,
and his (U)offspring (V)shall inherit the land.
14 (W)The friendship[b] of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My (X)eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will (Y)pluck my feet out of the net.
16 (Z)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18 (AA)Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
(AB)Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22 (AC)Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.
Footnotes
- Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
- Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel
Psalm 25
The Message
25 1-2 My head is high, God, held high;
I’m looking to you, God;
No hangdog skulking for me.
3 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.
4 Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.
5 Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren’t you?
6 Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;
Rebuild the ancient landmarks!
7 Forget that I sowed wild oats;
Mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!
8 God is fair and just;
He corrects the misdirected,
Sends them in the right direction.
9 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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson