Prayer for Protection, Guidance, and Pardon.

A Psalm of David.

25 To You, Lord, I (A)lift up my soul.
My God, in You (B)I trust,
Do not let me (C)be ashamed;
Do not let my (D)enemies rejoice over me.
Indeed, (E)none of those who wait for You will be ashamed;
[a]Those who (F)deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

(G)Make me know Your ways, Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in (H)Your truth and teach me,
For You are the (I)God of my salvation;
For You I (J)wait all the day.
(K)Remember, Lord, Your compassion and Your faithfulness,
For they have been [b](L)from of old.
Do not remember the (M)sins of my youth or my wrongdoings;
(N)Remember me according to Your faithfulness,
For Your (O)goodness’ sake, Lord.

(P)The Lord is good and (Q)upright;
Therefore He (R)instructs sinners in the way.
He (S)leads the [c]humble in justice,
And He (T)teaches the [d]humble His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are (U)faithfulness and truth
To (V)those who comply with His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For the (W)sake of Your name, Lord,
(X)Forgive my wrongdoing, for it is great.

12 Who is the person who (Y)fears the Lord?
He will (Z)instruct him in the way he should choose.
13 His soul will (AA)dwell in [e]prosperity,
And his [f]descendants will (AB)inherit the [g]land.
14 The [h](AC)secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
[i]And He will (AD)make them know His covenant.
15 My (AE)eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will [j](AF)rescue my feet from the net.

16 (AG)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am (AH)lonely and afflicted.
17 [k]The (AI)troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me (AJ)out of my distresses.
18 (AK)Look at my misery and my trouble,
And (AL)forgive all my sins.
19 Look at my enemies, for they (AM)are many,
And they (AN)hate me with violent hatred.
20 (AO)Guard my soul and save me;
Do not let me (AP)be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
21 Let (AQ)integrity and uprightness protect me,
For (AR)I wait for You.
22 (AS)Redeem Israel, God,
From all his distress.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:3 Or Let those...be ashamed
  2. Psalm 25:6 Or everlasting
  3. Psalm 25:9 Or afflicted
  4. Psalm 25:9 Or afflicted
  5. Psalm 25:13 Lit good
  6. Psalm 25:13 Lit seed
  7. Psalm 25:13 Or earth
  8. Psalm 25:14 Or counsel; or intimacy
  9. Psalm 25:14 Or And His covenant, to make them know it
  10. Psalm 25:15 Lit bring out
  11. Psalm 25:17 Some commentators Relieve the troubles of my heart

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