Font Size
Psalm 25
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 25
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 25[a]
Prayer for Guidance and Help
1 [b]Of David.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
2 in you, O my God, I trust.
Do not let me be put to shame,
or permit my enemies to gloat over me.
3 No one who places his hope in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will be the lot of all
who break faith without justification.
4 [c]Make your ways known to me, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and instruct me,
for you are God, my Savior,
and in you I hope all the day long.
6 Be mindful, O Lord, that mercy and kindness
have been yours from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth
or my many transgressions,
but remember me in your kindness,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
8 [d]Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them the path to follow.
10 The ways of the Lord[e] are kindness and truth
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For the sake of your name,[f] O Lord,
pardon my iniquity, great though it be.
12 Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord?
He will be shown the path he should choose.[g]
13 He will enjoy lasting prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.[h]
14 The Lord manifests himself to those who fear him,[i]
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever upon the Lord,
for he alone can free my feet from the snare.
16 [j]Turn to me and have mercy on me,
for I am alone and afflicted.
17 Relieve the anguish of my heart[k]
and free me from my distress.
18 Look upon my affliction and suffering,
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how numerous are my enemies,
and how fierce is their hatred of me.
20 Preserve my life and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I seek refuge in you.
21 Let integrity and virtue preserve me,
for in you I place my hope.
22 Redeem[l] Israel, O God,
from all its troubles.
Footnotes
- Psalm 25:1 One admires the inner quality of the righteous man who addresses himself to God in this alphabetical psalm. He does not believe that he is totally innocent. He takes false steps and deserves his wretchedness and his isolation because of his sins. His confession testifies to much uprightness and honesty. It is the attitude of a humble person who knows he is loved by God and trusts in him; he hopes to receive pardon, counsel, and assistance from the Lord. The theme of this beautiful prayer is given in the cry of hope in verses 1-2, which the Liturgy puts on the lips of Christians at the beginning of Advent.
In praying this psalm, we can dwell on the fact that in his unfailing love God is pleased to lead us back to the right path when we go astray and to keep us on it. Christ gives us salvation through the remission of sins (see Lk 1:77-79). - Psalm 25:1 Prayer for relief from distress and the ensuing slander from one’s foes.
- Psalm 25:4 Prayer for guidance and pardon. Your ways: that is, “your commandments” (see Pss 27:11; 86:11; 128:1; 143:8). Kindness: see note on Ps 6:5.
- Psalm 25:8 Trust in the Lord’s covenant blessings.
- Psalm 25:10 Ways of the Lord: God’s manner of dealing kindly with those who remain faithful to the covenant (see Pss 103:7; 138:5). See also Ps 85:10; Gen 32:10; Deut 33:9; and Paul’s magnificent summary in Rom 8:28: “We know that God makes all things work together for good for those who love him.”
- Psalm 25:11 Name: see note on Ps 5:12.
- Psalm 25:12 The path he should choose: or “the path chosen for him.”
- Psalm 25:13 Inherit the land: according to the teaching of the sages, God rewards the righteous here below by bestowing on them earthly goods that he withholds from the wicked (see Ps 37:9, 29; Prov 19:23). To this is added the returned exiles’ hope for the enjoyment of the land of their ancestors (see Isa 57:13; 60:21; 65:9).
- Psalm 25:14 The Lord manifests himself to those who fear him: some translations have “The Lord manifests his secret to those who fear him,” which is to be understood as divine intimacy and friendship (see Ps 73:28; Ex 33:11; Job 29:4; Prov 3:32; Jn 15:5) united with the understanding of divine things (see Jer 16:21; 31:34; Hos 6:6).
- Psalm 25:16 Renewed prayer for relief from distress and foes.
- Psalm 25:17 Heart: see note on Ps 4:8.
- Psalm 25:22 Concluding prayer on behalf of all God’s people. Redeem: i.e., “deliver.”
Psalm 25
New King James Version
Psalm 25
New King James Version
A Plea for Deliverance and Forgiveness
A Psalm of David.
25 To (A)You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I (B)trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
(C)Let not my enemies triumph over me.
3 Indeed, let no one who [a]waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 (D)Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, (E)Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they are from of old.
7 Do not remember (F)the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
(G)According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
9 The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 (H)For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the Lord?
(I)Him shall [b]He teach in the way He chooses.
13 (J)He himself shall dwell in [c]prosperity,
And (K)his descendants shall inherit the earth.
14 (L)The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
15 (M)My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall [d]pluck my feet out of the net.
16 (N)Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am [e]desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
18 (O)Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with [f]cruel hatred.
20 Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.
22 (P)Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all their troubles!
Footnotes
- Psalm 25:3 Waits for You in faith
- Psalm 25:12 Or he
- Psalm 25:13 Lit. goodness
- Psalm 25:15 Lit. bring out
- Psalm 25:16 lonely
- Psalm 25:19 violent hatred
Psalm 25
New International Version
Psalm 25
New International Version
Psalm 25[a]
Of David.
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.(A)
2 I trust in you;(B)
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 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.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.(E)
5 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.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(I)
for they are from of old.
7 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)
8 Good and upright(N) is the Lord;
therefore he instructs(O) sinners in his ways.
9 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
- Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
- Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.
Psalm 25
Wycliffe Bible
Psalm 25
Wycliffe Bible
25 The song of David. Lord, to thee I have raised my soul; (The psalm of David. Lord, I raise up my soul to thee;)
2 my God, I trust in thee, be I not ashamed. Neither mine enemies scorn me; (my God, I put my trust in thee, so do not let me shamed. And do not let my enemies scorn me;)
3 for all men that suffer thee shall not be shamed. All men doing wicked things superfluously; be they shamed. (for all those who trust in thee shall not be shamed. But all those who do wicked things without cause, let them be shamed.)
4 Lord, show thou thy ways to me; and teach thou me thy paths.
5 (Ad)dress thou me in thy truth, and teach thou me, for thou art God, my saviour; and I suffered thee all day. (Direct thou me in thy truth, and teach thou me, for thou art God, my saviour; and I have waited for thee all day long.)
6 Lord, have thou mind of thy merciful doings; and of thy mercies that be from the world. (Lord, remember thy merciful doings; and thy constant love, which thou hast shown from long ago.)
7 Have thou not mind on the trespasses of my youth; and on mine unknowings. Thou, Lord, have mind on me by thy mercy; for thy goodness. (Remember not the trespasses of my youth; and all my ignorance. O Lord, because of thy love, remember me; for the sake of thy goodness.)
8 The Lord is sweet and rightful; for this cause he shall give a law to men trespassing in the way. (The Lord is good and upright; and for this reason he hath given a way forward for those who trespass./The Lord is good and righteous; and for this reason he hath given a way back for those who trespass.)
9 He shall (ad)dress meek men in doom; he shall teach mild men his ways. (He shall direct the humble in their judgement; he shall teach the humble his ways.)
10 All the ways of the Lord be mercy and truth; to men seeking his testament, and his witnessings. (All the ways of the Lord be loving and faithful; for those who keep his covenant, and his teaching, or his commands.)
11 Lord, for thy name, thou shalt do mercy to my sin; for it is much. (Lord, for the sake of thy name, have thou mercy on my sin; although it is great.)
12 Who is a man, that dreadeth the Lord? he ordaineth to him a law in the way which he (should) choose. (Who is someone, who feareth the Lord?/who hath reverence for the Lord? the Lord shall ordain to him the way that he should choose.)
13 His soul shall dwell in goods; and his seed shall inherit the land. (He shall live in abundance; and his children shall inherit the land.)
14 The Lord is a firmness to men dreading him; and his testament is, that it be showed to them. (The Lord shall share his secrets with those who fear him/with those who revere him; and he shall show his covenant to them.)
15 Mine eyes be ever[more] to(ward) the Lord; for he shall pull away my feet from the snare. (My eyes be upon the Lord forevermore; for he shall pull away my feet from the snare.)
16 Behold thou to me, and have thou mercy on me; for I am one alone and poor. (Look thou on me, and have thou mercy on me; for I am all alone and poor.)
17 The tribulations of mine heart be multiplied; deliver thou me of my needs. (The troubles in my heart be multiplied; save thou me from all my troubles.)
18 See thou my meekness and my travail (See thou my troubles and my trials); and forgive thou all my trespasses.
19 Behold thou mine enemies, for they be multiplied; and they hate me by wicked hatred. (Look thou upon my enemies, for they be many; and they hate me with such wicked hatred.)
20 Keep thou my soul, and deliver me; be I not ashamed, for I hoped in thee. (Keep thou me alive, and save me; let me not be shamed, for I put my trust in thee.)
21 Innocent men and rightful cleaved to me; for I suffered thee. (Let innocence and uprightness, or integrity, cleave to me; for I have waited for thee.)
22 God, deliver thou Israel; from all his tribulations. (God, save thou the people of Israel; from all their troubles.)
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
2001 by Terence P. Noble