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A Prayer for Guidance, Deliverance, and Forgiveness

Of David.[a]

25 To you, O Yahweh, I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust you; let me not be put to shame.
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you should be put to shame.
Those who betray without cause should be put to shame.
Make me know your ways, O Yahweh.
Teach me your paths.
Cause me to walk in your truth and teach me,
because you are the God of my salvation.
I await you all day long.[b]
Remember your compassion, O Yahweh,
and your acts of loyal love,
because they are from of old.
Do not remember
the sins of my youth or my transgressions.
According to your loyal love remember me if you will,
for the sake of your goodness, O Yahweh.
Good and right is Yahweh;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He causes the humble to walk in justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of Yahweh are loyal love and faithfulness
for those who keep his covenant and statutes.[c]
11 Also, for the sake of your name, O Yahweh,
forgive my sin, because it is great.
12 Who is the man fearing Yahweh?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
13 His soul will lodge in prosperity,
and his offspring will possess the land.
14 Intimate fellowship with Yahweh is for those who fear him,
and he makes known his covenant to them.
15 My eyes are continually toward Yahweh,
because he will take my feet from the net.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me
because I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Remove the troubles of my heart;
bring me out from my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and trouble,
and forgive[d] all my sins.
19 Consider that my enemies are many,
and they hate me with violent hatred.
20 Protect my life and deliver me.
Let me not be put to shame, because I take shelter in you.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
because I wait for you.
22 O God, redeem Israel
from all its troubles.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 25:5 Literally “all of the day”
  3. Psalm 25:10 Or “covenant statutes”
  4. Psalm 25:18 Or “take away”

Davidic[a]

A Prayer for Help and Forgiveness

25 I will lift up my soul to you, Lord.
I trust in you, my God,
    do not let me be ashamed;
        do not let my enemies triumph over me.
Indeed, no one who waits on you will be ashamed,
    but those who offend for no reason will be put to shame.

Cause me to understand your ways, Lord;
    teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me;
    for you are the God who delivers me.
        All day long I have waited for you.

Remember, Lord, your tender mercies and your gracious love;
    indeed, they are eternal!
Do not remember my youthful sins and transgressions;
    but remember me in light of your gracious love,
        in light of your goodness, Lord.

The Lord is good and just;
    therefore he will teach sinners concerning the way.
He will guide the humble[b] to justice;
    he will teach the humble[c] his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord lead to gracious love and truth
    for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.[d]

11 For the sake of your name,[e] Lord,
    forgive my sin, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
    God[f] will teach him the path he should choose.

13 He[g] will experience good things;
    his descendants will inherit the earth.
14 The intimate counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him
    so they may know his covenant.
15 My eyes look to the Lord continuously,
    because he’s the one who releases my feet from the trap.[h]

16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me,
    for I am lonely and oppressed.
17 The troubles of my heart have increased;
    bring me out of my distress!
18 Look upon my distress and affliction;
    forgive all my sins.

19 Look how many enemies I have gained!
    They hate me with a vicious hatred.
20 Preserve my life and deliver me;
    do not let me be ashamed,
        because I take refuge in you.
21 Integrity and justice will preserve me,
    because I wait on you.

22 Redeem Israel, God, from all its troubles.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 This acrostic psalm begins each verse with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet
  2. Psalm 25:9 Or afflicted
  3. Psalm 25:9 Or afflicted
  4. Psalm 25:10 Or testimonies
  5. Psalm 25:11 I.e. reputation
  6. Psalm 25:12 Lit. He
  7. Psalm 25:13 Lit. His soul
  8. Psalm 25:15 Lit. net