Psalm 25:1-22
Teach Me Your Paths
1Of David. To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
2in You, my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who engage in treachery without cause will be disgraced.
4Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
5Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.
6Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion, for they are from age to age.
7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD.
8Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
9He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
10All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.
11For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.
12Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.
13His soul will dwell in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.
14The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.
15My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh.
16Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress.
18Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins.
19Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with vicious hatred.
20Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.
21May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You.
22Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress.
Berean Standard Bible
David lifts his soul to God and asks not to be put to shame. Enemies are waiting, but the deeper request is guidance. “Make me know Your ways” is repeated through the prayer because trust needs direction, not only rescue.
The LORD is good and upright, so He teaches sinners the way, guides the humble in justice, and instructs them in His paths. David appeals to God's mercy and loving devotion, asking that the sins of his youth not define the whole story. Forgiveness is grounded in God's character, not in David's ability to present a spotless past.
The psalm moves between personal trouble and loneliness. David's eyes are always toward the LORD, but he is afflicted, distressed, and surrounded by enemies. He asks God to guard his soul, deliver Israel, and redeem them from all their troubles. Personal prayer opens into concern for the whole people.
Questions
1 What does David ask God to teach?
AnswerHe asks God to teach him His ways, paths, truth, and justice so that trust can become obedient living.
2 Whom does the LORD guide?
AnswerHe guides the humble in justice and teaches sinners the way because His goodness makes instruction possible.
3 What does David ask God to remember?
AnswerHe asks God to remember mercy and loving devotion rather than the sins and rebellious acts of his youth.
4 How does the prayer end?
AnswerIt asks God to guard David, deliver him from trouble, and redeem all Israel.
What This Means for Us
Guidance is a better prayer than “make my plan succeed.” Ask God to teach the way, then remain humble enough to change direction when His truth exposes a wrong motive.
The psalm also joins personal healing to communal concern. Our family prayers should widen beyond our own relief to remember neighbors and communities carrying troubles we cannot solve alone.
Prayer
LORD, teach us Your paths and guide us in justice. Remember us with mercy, forgive what needs forgiving, and widen our concern until we pray for the redemption of people beyond our own household. Amen.