Psalms 25:4-14

4 Make your ways known to me, O LORD, and teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth and teach me because you are God, my savior. I wait all day long for you.

6 Remember, O LORD, your compassionate and merciful deeds. They have existed from eternity.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my rebellious ways. Remember me, O LORD, in keeping with your mercy and your goodness.

8 The LORD is good and decent. That is why he teaches sinners the way they should live.

9 He leads humble people to do what is right, and he teaches them his way.

10 Every path of the LORD is [one of] mercy and truth for those who cling to his promise and written instructions.

11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, remove my guilt, because it is great.

12 Who, then, is this person that fears the LORD? He is the one whom the LORD will teach which path to choose.

13 He will enjoy good things in life, and his descendants will inherit the land.

14 The LORD advises those who fear him. He reveals to them the intent of his promise.

Psalms 25:4-14 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.