Teach Me Your Paths

[a] Of David.

25 To you, O Lord, I (A)lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I (B)trust;
    (C)let me not be put to shame;
    (D)let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, (E)none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    they shall be ashamed who are (F)wantonly (G)treacherous.

(H)Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
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.

Remember your (J)mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
    (K)for they have been from of old.
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!

(N)Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he (O)instructs sinners in the way.
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

  1. Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
  2. Psalm 25:14 Or The secret counsel

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