Christianity

Psalms 25Teach Me Thy Paths

Summary

Psalm 25 is an acrostic prayer, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, though the pattern is slightly irregular. The psalmist asks to be shown God's ways, pleads that the sins of his youth be forgotten, and describes himself as lonely and afflicted. Repeated themes are waiting on God, guidance and forgiveness. Traditionally ascribed to David, it ends with a line asking God to redeem all Israel. Sephardic Jews recite it in daily Tachanun.

Key verse

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

Psalms 25:4

Themes

Guidance
Forgiveness
Waiting on God
Humility

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.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Judaism
Tehillim 25 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
Sephardic and some other communities recite this psalm in Tachanun, the weekday supplication, where Ashkenazi Jews use Psalm 6.
Islam
Surah Al-Faatiha (1): Guide Us
The Fatiha asks God to show the straight path, the same prayer for guidance that runs through Psalm 25 and its request to be taught God's paths.

Questions about Psalms 25

What is an acrostic psalm?

In an acrostic psalm successive verses or sections begin with successive Hebrew letters. Psalms 9 to 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 and 145 use this form.

What does remember not the sins of my youth mean?

In Psalm 25:7 the psalmist asks God not to hold earlier failings against him but to remember him according to mercy.