Psalm 25 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalm 25 has several different themes or topics within it. These include assertions of trust in Yahweh, lament (complaints about the present situation), and asking Yahweh for forgiveness of sin, deliverance from enemies and troubles, and for guidance. This psalm is an acrostic poem which follows the order of the Hebrew alphabet, with a few exceptions. 1. David’s first prayer (1–7) 2. Yahweh guides humble people in the right way to live (8–9) 3. Yahweh’s positive response to “the ones keeping his covenant and his testimonies” (10) 4. David’s second prayer (11) 5. Ways that Yahweh blesses those who fear him (12–14) 6. David looks to Yahweh for deliverance from his enemies (15) 7. David’s third prayer (16–22)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Psalm

Yahweh’s guidance of David described using the metaphor of “path” and a “way”

In verses 4–5, 8–9, and 12 David describes the right way to live, the way that Yahweh desires a person to live, as a “path” and a “way.” David asks Yahweh to lead him in this proper way of living (4–5), says that Yahweh will teach humble people his “way” (8–9), and will teach those who fear him the proper “way” (12). See the individual notes in these verses for specific translation guidance. (Because David uses a parallelism in verse 4, we know that the words “ways/way” and “paths” have the same meaning in these particular verses.)

Translation Issues in This Psalm

Singular forms of “you” and “your.”

In verses 1–7, 11, and 16–22 David prays directly to Yahweh. Each time David uses the pronouns “you” and “your” in these verses they are the singular form (in the language he wrote in, Hebrew) because they refer to Yahweh. If your language has singular and plural forms of the pronouns “you” and “your,” make sure you use the singular forms in these verses. (See: figs-yousingular)