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Psalm 25

Psalm 25 joins confession and distress to trust in YHWH, whose goodness moves him to teach sinners his ways.

Surrounded by enemies and troubled by his sins, David turns to YHWH for protection, pardon, and guidance. The heading names David, though the circumstances behind the prayer are unknown. His requests alternate with statements about God’s goodness and his care for those who fear him. He asks God to remember his mercy rather than the sins of David’s youth. The closing plea widens from his own distress to the troubles of Israel.

guilt and confessionwaitingfeeling distant from God
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1By David. To you, LORD, I lift up my soul.
2My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.
3Yes, no one who waits for you will be shamed. They will be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4Show me your ways, LORD. Teach me your paths.
5Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. I wait for you all day long.
6LORD, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times.
7Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, LORD.
8Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
9He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.
10All the paths of the LORD are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11For your name’s sake, LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12What man is he who fears the LORD? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.
13His soul will dwell at ease. His offspring will inherit the land.
14The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.
15My eyes are ever on the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.
17The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.
18Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.
19Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred.
20Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.
21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22God, redeem Israel out of all his troubles.
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Key verses
Psalm 25:8God’s goodness and uprightness ground David’s hope that sinners can receive instruction even as they seek pardon.
Psalm 25:3David extends his plea beyond himself, affirming that those who wait for YHWH will not be shamed.
Psalm 25:14Friendship with YHWH includes knowledge of his covenant and belongs with reverence for him.
Where this chapter reaches

Psalm 25 shares with Isaiah and Romans the assurance that those who trust in God will not be put to shame. Its link between reverence for YHWH and receiving his instruction also appears in Proverbs, where fear of YHWH grounds wisdom.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What do David’s requests about what God should remember reveal about his hope for forgiveness?

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Which part of David’s prayer comes closest to what you want to ask God, and why?

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Questions people ask about Psalm 25

What does the friendship of YHWH mean in Psalm 25:14?

The verse connects God’s friendship with fearing him and knowing his covenant. It describes closeness marked by reverence and God’s disclosure of his ways. The surrounding verses speak of instruction, humility, and covenant faithfulness, so this friendship includes learning from God and honoring his authority.

What does Psalm 25 mean by saying those who wait for God will not be shamed?

David fears that his enemies will triumph and his trust in God will appear empty. Verse 3 declares confidence that waiting for YHWH will not end in disgrace. Yet the psalm continues with distress and pleas for rescue; it gives no timetable for relief or promise of freedom from hardship.

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Psalms · 150 chapters
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What the Bible says about guilt →What the Bible says about patience →What the Bible says about doubt →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).