Psalms 25: Show Me Your Ways
An acrostic prayer for guidance, pardon, and protection, in which David lifts up his soul to God and waits in humble trust.
Psalms 25 (WEB)
1 To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul.
2 My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.
3 Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long.
6 Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times.
7 Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.
8 Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
9 He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.
10 All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For your name’s sake, Yahweh, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 What man is he who fears Yahweh? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease. His seed shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever on Yahweh, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, God, out all of his troubles.
Psalms 25 (KJV)
1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Psalms 25 (ASV)
1 Unto thee, O Jehovah, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in thee have I trusted, Let me not be put to shame; Let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, none that wait for thee shall be put to shame: They shall be put to shame that deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me thy ways, O Jehovah; Teach me thy paths.
5 Guide me in thy truth, and teach me; For thou art the God of my salvation; For thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Jehovah, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindness; For they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: According to thy lovingkindness remember thou me, For thy goodness’ sake, O Jehovah.
8 Good and upright is Jehovah: Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in justice; And the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of Jehovah are lovingkindness and truth Unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name’s sake, O Jehovah, Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; And his seed shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him; And he will show them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are ever toward Jehovah; For he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; For I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: Oh bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Consider mine affliction and my travail; And forgive all my sins.
19 Consider mine enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me: Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all his troubles.
Summary
This psalm is an acrostic prayer of David, working through the Hebrew alphabet as it weaves together pleas for guidance, forgiveness, and deliverance. David opens by lifting up his soul to God, trusting him and asking not to be put to shame before his enemies. He prays a heartfelt request that runs through the whole psalm: “Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths.” He appeals to God's tender mercies and loving kindness, which are from old, and asks God not to remember the sins of his youth but to remember him according to mercy. David reflects on the character of God, who is good and upright and so instructs sinners, guiding the humble and teaching them his way, for all the LORD's paths are loving kindness and truth to those who keep his covenant. He confesses that his iniquity is great and pleads for pardon for God's own name's sake. The psalm describes the friendship of the LORD with those who fear him and ends in a cry from loneliness and affliction, asking God to consider his troubles, forgive his sins, guard his soul, and redeem all Israel. It teaches us to come to God humbly, trusting his mercy, eager to be taught, and patient to wait.
Voices
- David — The humble petitioner who lifts up his soul to God, confesses his great sin, asks to be taught God's ways, and waits in trust.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The good and upright God of old mercies who instructs sinners, guides the humble, pardons iniquity, and befriends those who fear him.
- Israel — God's people, for whom David prays at the close, asking that the LORD would redeem them out of all their troubles.
Key Verse
Psalm 25:4 (WEB)
Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths.
Lessons Learned
- Prayer begins by lifting our whole soul to God in trust.
- God is glad to teach his ways to those who come humbly seeking direction.
- We can ask God not to remember our sins but to remember us according to his mercy.
- God shares his friendship and his covenant with those who fear him.
- Waiting on the LORD is never wasted; no one who waits for him shall be put to shame.
- Pray with an open soul. “To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul” (Psalm 25:1, WEB). Real prayer offers our whole self to God, not just polished words.
- Ask God to teach you. “Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths” (Psalm 25:4, WEB). The humble heart wants to learn God's way rather than insist on its own.
- Appeal to mercy, not merit. “Don't remember the sins of my youth… Remember me according to your loving kindness” (Psalm 25:7, WEB). We come to God resting on his goodness, not our record.
- God guides the humble. “He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way” (Psalm 25:9, WEB). Lowliness, not self-confidence, opens us to God's leading.
- What does it mean to “lift up my soul” to God (25:1)?
- How often does David ask to be taught God's ways, and why might that request matter so much?
- On what basis does David ask God to forgive his sins (25:6-7, 11)?
- What is the “friendship of Yahweh” promised to those who fear him (25:14)?
- Where do you most need God to “show you his ways” right now, and how can the group pray for that?
- Lifting up the soul pictures offering one's whole inner self to God in trust and dependence. It is an open, vulnerable posture that holds nothing back and looks entirely to him for help.
- David returns again and again to the plea to be taught God's ways and paths (25:4-5, 8-9, 12). The repetition shows a heart that values divine guidance above its own plans and treats teachability as central to walking with God.
- David appeals not to his own goodness but to God's tender mercies, loving kindness, and the honor of God's own name (25:6-7, 11). Even while confessing that his iniquity is great, he rests his hope entirely on grace.
- It speaks of an intimate fellowship the LORD grants to those who reverence him, sharing his covenant and counsel with them. Far from cold duty, the fear of the LORD opens the door to friendship with God.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name a decision or area where they need God's direction, and to make David's prayer their own. As leader, encourage patience and a teachable spirit, and let the group carry one another's requests.