BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 25

Psalms book home•Chapter 25 of 150•22 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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Psalms 25 Overview

David asks not to be ashamed, seeks God's paths, confesses sins, trusts God's goodness toward sinners, and asks deliverance from enemies and loneliness.

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25Chapter

22Verses

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Before you read Psalms 25

Coming from

Psalm 24 centered on the creator-king enters in glory. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

David asks not to be ashamed, seeks God's paths, confesses sins, trusts God's goodness toward sinners, and asks deliverance from enemies and loneliness.

Leads into

Psalm 26 turns to an appeal for vindication and love for god's house, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 25 belongs to Book I of the Psalter (Psalms 1–41). The Hebrew poem is broadly acrostic, helping organize themes of guidance and covenant instruction rather than telling a linear story.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

An acrostic prayer for guidance, forgiveness, and covenant mercy.

Lament truth

In Psalm 25, biblical faith brings grief, fear, confusion, and need directly to God rather than hiding them.

Wisdom truth

In Psalm 25, godly wisdom evaluates life by the LORD’s revealed moral order rather than by appearances alone.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Lament connection

Hebrews 4:15-16 invites believers to come boldly for mercy and grace in need. This connection helps frame Psalm 25.

Wisdom connection

Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10 likewise place true wisdom under the fear of the LORD. This connection helps frame Psalm 25.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep lament in context

Do not mistake every anguished sentence in Psalm 25 for the psalmist’s settled theological conclusion; lament often voices how the crisis feels before faith answers it.

Keep wisdom in context

Do not turn a wisdom contrast in Psalm 25 into a mechanical formula that guarantees immediate earthly outcomes in every case.

Read Psalms 25 watching for…

teach me paths.

remember mercy.

remember not sins.

secret of LORD.

redeem Israel.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-7David trusts God and asks him to remember mercy rather than the sins of youth 8-14The LORD teaches sinners and guides the meek in his covenant ways 15-22David asks deliverance from trouble, enemies, and guilt

[A Psalm] of David.Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

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Psalms 25:21

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