P F1 1-7. Prayer and worship.
G1 8-10. Teaching. Worshipers.
F2 11. Prayer and worship.
G2 12-14. Teaching. Worshipers.
F3 15-22. Prayer and worship.
(The 2nd Acrostic Psalm. The omission of the ק [Koph] makes 21 letters [7x3] instead of 22, and marks off 1 verse [v.11] as central, which is the 1st confession of sin in the Psalms; thus linking on Repentance to Suffering and Resurrection [Pss. 16,22], as in Luke 24:44-47. The double א [A = Aleph] in vv.1,2 connects the looking up of the worshiper with the double ר [Resh] of vv.18,19, which speaks of the looking down of Yahaveh. These 2 are linked on to Ps. 25 by the Selah of 24:10 and 24:4.)
953 B.C.
Psalm 25)
1 (א) Unto You, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. (Verses 1 and 2 are connected with vv. 18:19: the double Aleph (א), withe the double Resh (ר), connecting David's looking up with Yahaveh's looking down)
2 (א) O my God,
(ב) I have confided in You:
Let me not put to shame,
Let not my foes triumph over me.
3 (ג) Yes, let none that wait on You be ashamed:
Let them be ashamed which act treacherously without cause.
4 (ד) Shew me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
5 (ה) Lead me in Your truth, and teach me:
For You are the God of my salvation;
(ו) For You do I wait all the day.
6 (ז) Remember, O LORD, Your tender compassion and Your loving-kindnesses;
For they have been ever of old.
7 (ח) Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions:
According to Your grace remember You me
For Your goodness' sake, O LORD.
8 (ט) Good and upright is the LORD:
Therefore will He direct sinners in the way.
9 (י) The patient (or good) will He guide vindication:
And the meek will He teach His way.
10 (כ) All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth
Unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. (The redeemed [v.22] and righteous worshipers are the subject of this Psalm)
11 (ל) For Your name's sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity; for it is great.
12 (מ) What man is he that reveres the LORD?
Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose.
13 (נ) He shall dwell at ease;
And his seed shall inherit the land (cp. Matt. 5:5).
14 (ס) The secret counsel of the LORD is with them that revere Him;
And He will cause them to know His covenant.
15 (ע) My eyes are ever looking forward (it is a salutary suspense that keeps us thus looking) to the LORD;
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 (פ) Turn You to me, and show kindness to me;
For I am [Your] only One (see Deut. 6:4) and afflicted.
17 (צ) The troubles of my heart are enlarged: (Or, troubles have enlarged my heart: i.e. made it more sympathetic.)
O bring You (or You have brought) me out of my distresses.
18 (ר) Look upon my humiliation and my pain;
And bear away all my sins.
19 (ר) Consider my foes; for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred. (Hatred without a cause.)
20 (ש) O keep my soul, and rescue me:
Let me not be ashamed;
For I flee for refuge to You.
21 (ת) Let integrity and uprightness preserve me;
For I wait on You.
22 Deliver (i.e. redeem by putting forth power. See Ex. 13:13) Israel, O God,
Out of all his troubles.