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This is a song that David wrote.

A prayer for help in trouble[a]

25 Lord, I offer myself to you.
I trust in you, my God.
    Please do not let me be ashamed.
Do not let my enemies laugh at me,
    because they are stronger than me.
Surely nobody who trusts in you
    will become ashamed.
But those who like to deceive others
    will become ashamed.
Lord, help me to understand your ways.
    Teach me your good paths.[b]
Please be my guide and teach me your truth.
I trust you every day,
    because you are the God who keeps me safe.
Lord, please be kind to me
    and show me your faithful love.
From long ago you have always been like that.
Do not punish me for the sins that I did long ago.
When I was young, I turned against you.
    Please be kind to me, because of your faithful love!
The Lord is good and he does what is right.
Because of that, he teaches sinners the right way to live.
He is a guide for humble people,
    so that they know what is right.
He teaches them to follow his way.
10 The Lord is kind to his people
    in everything that he does.
He shows his faithful love
    to those who obey the rules of his covenant.
11 Lord, my sins are very many.
Please forgive me,
    and show that your name is great.
12 If people respect the Lord,
    the Lord will show them the right way to live.
13 People like that will enjoy a good life.
The land will belong to their descendants.
14 The Lord is a guide for those who serve him.
    He teaches them to obey his covenant.
15 I always look to the Lord for help.
He will keep me safe from my enemies,
    so that their traps do not catch me.
16 Please turn towards me, Lord,
    and be kind to me.
I feel very weak and lonely.
17 I worry a lot about my troubles.
    Please rescue me from them!
18 Look at all my pain!
    See how I am suffering!
Forgive me for all my sins.
19 Look at all my enemies!
    There are very many of them!
They hate me so much
    that they want to hurt me.
20 Keep my life safe and take care of me.
I have come to you to keep me safe,
    so do not let me be ashamed.
21 I trust you to save me.
Please take care of me,
    because I am honest and good.

22 God, save Israel's people from all their troubles!

Footnotes

  1. 25:1 This psalm is an alphabet psalm, like Psalms 9 and 10. Verse 1 begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 2 begins with the second letter and so on. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet but this psalm misses out the letter q. Verse 22 is separate from the alphabet verses.
  2. 25:4 God's ways and his paths are the right way for us to live.

Psalm 25[a]

Of David.

In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.(A)

I trust in you;(B)
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,(C)
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous(D) without cause.

Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.(E)
Guide me in your truth(F) and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,(G)
    and my hope is in you(H) all day long.
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(I)
    for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth(J)
    and my rebellious ways;(K)
according to your love(L) remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.(M)

Good and upright(N) is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs(O) sinners in his ways.
He guides(P) the humble in what is right
    and teaches them(Q) his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful(R)
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.(S)
11 For the sake of your name,(T) Lord,
    forgive(U) my iniquity,(V) though it is great.

12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?(W)
    He will instruct them in the ways(X) they should choose.[b]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,(Y)
    and their descendants will inherit the land.(Z)
14 The Lord confides(AA) in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known(AB) to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,(AC)
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.(AD)

16 Turn to me(AE) and be gracious to me,(AF)
    for I am lonely(AG) and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles(AH) of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.(AI)
18 Look on my affliction(AJ) and my distress(AK)
    and take away all my sins.(AL)
19 See how numerous are my enemies(AM)
    and how fiercely they hate me!(AN)

20 Guard my life(AO) and rescue me;(AP)
    do not let me be put to shame,(AQ)
    for I take refuge(AR) in you.
21 May integrity(AS) and uprightness(AT) protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[c] is in you.(AU)

22 Deliver Israel,(AV) O God,
    from all their troubles!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
  3. Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.