Psalms 25:1-8

1 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.)

Psalms 25:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 25

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This is the first of the psalms which is written in an alphabetical order, or in which the first word of every verse begins with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order, though it is not strictly and regularly observed; the reason of this manner of writing is not very obvious; the {r} Jews confess their ignorance of it; it may be to engage the attention to what is said, or to assist the memory in laying it up, and retaining it there. The occasion of the psalm seems to be the troubles David was in on account of an unnatural rebellion raised against him by some of his subjects, at the head of which was his own son Absalom; he speaks of himself as in a net, and in great affliction, distress, and trouble, by reason of his enemies, Ps 25:15-18; and as being brought to a sense of his former sins, for which he desires pardon, Ps 25:7,11. {r} Kimchi in loc.