Raymund John P.

Cipriano Sapiential Books

Redemptoris Mater Seminary February 18, 2023

Commentary on Psalm 25
New Revised Standard Version
Psalm 25
Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance
Of David.
1
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9
He leads the humble in what is right
and teaches the humble his way.
10
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11
For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12
Who are they who fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13
They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Raymund John P. Cipriano Sapiential Books
Redemptoris Mater Seminary February 18, 2023
16
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17
Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.
18
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19
Consider how many are my foes
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20
O guard my life and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22
Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all its troubles.
Commentary of Psalm 25
An individual lament in acrostic style. The psalmist is a sinner who is hated by enemies; he prays
for deliverance and guidance. 1

Verse 1
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
‫ְל ָדוִ ד ֵא ֶליָך יהוה נַ ְפ ִשי ֶא ָשא׃‬

➢ Lift up my soul— (Ps 24:4; 86:4), set my affections (compare Col 3:2)2
➢ This is an expression of prayer having confidence to the Lord.

Verse 2
O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
‫בֹושה ַאל־יַ ַע ְלצּו אֹיְ ַבי ִלי׃‬
ָ ‫ל־א‬ֵ ‫ֹלהי ְבָך ָב ַט ְח ִתי ַא‬
ַ ‫ֱא‬
➢ David express his confidence to Elohim, expressing that the one who is faithful should
not be punished but those who rebel against him.

Verse 3
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly
treacherous.
‫יקם׃‬
ַָּ ‫ַַּגם ָכל־קֹוֶ יָך ַּל ֹא יֵ בֹשּו יֵ בֹשּו ַהבֹוגְ ִדים ֵר‬

1
Raymond Edward Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer and Roland Edmund Murphy, The Jerome Biblical
Commentary (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1996, c1968), 1:580.
2
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, A. R. Fausset et al., A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old
and New Testaments, On Spine: Critical and Explanatory Commentary. (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research
Systems, Inc., 1997), Ps 25:1.
Raymund John P. Cipriano Sapiential Books
Redemptoris Mater Seminary February 18, 2023

➢ Those who deal in treachery in vain.” The adverb ‫( ֵר ָיקם‬reqam, “in vain”) probably refers
to the failure (or futility) of their efforts.3
➢ A prayer expressing that there is a favor in return for those who hope in the Lord.
➢ Disgrace if the consequence of a person who transgress.

Verse 4
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
‫חֹותיָך ַל ְמ ֵד ִַּני׃‬
ֶ ‫יע ִַּני א ְֹר‬
ֵ ‫הֹוד‬
ִ ‫ְד ָר ֶכיָך יהוה‬
➢ It depicts someone who is asking the Lord for instruction.
➢ Desiring to walk in the light of God’s goodness.

Verse 5
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day
long.
‫ל־הּיֹום׃‬
ַ ‫יתי ָכ‬
ִַּ ִ‫אֹותָך ִקּו‬
ְ ‫ֹלהי יִ ְשעִַּי‬
ֵַּ ‫תה ֱא‬
ַָּ ‫י־א‬
ַ ‫יכ ִַּני ַב ֲא ִמ ֶתָך וְ לַ ְמ ֵד ִַּני ִכ‬
ֵ ‫ַה ְד ִר‬
➢ An expression of a child who wish to be guided by his father.
➢ The commandments of Yahweh will lead the person into the fulness of his life.
➢ When a person waits for the Lord he is not waiting in vain. Even though a person may
grow weary.

Verse 6
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
‫עֹולם ֵהמַָּה׃‬
ַָּ ‫ֹר־ר ֲח ֶמיָך יהוה וַ ֲח ָס ֶדיָך ִַּכי ֵמ‬
ַ ‫זְ כ‬
➢ This is asking the Lord to contemplate and for him to act according to his promises.
➢ The Love of God has been from eternity.

Verse 7
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love
remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
‫טּובָך יהוה׃‬
ְ ‫ען‬ַַּ ‫תה ְל ַמ‬
ַָּ ‫י־א‬
ַ ‫ר־ל‬
ִ ‫ל־תזְ ַּכֹר ְכ ַח ְס ְדָך זְ ָכ‬
ִ ‫ּופ ָשעַַּי ַא‬
ְ ‫עּורי‬
ַַּ ְ‫ַחטֹאות נ‬
➢ A young person who lacks discernment and wisdom.
➢ The short comings and rebelliousness may be cancelled when the Lord is mindful of who
he is and forgets what we have done.

Verse 8
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in the way.
‫יֹורה ַח ָט ִאים ַב ָד ֶרְך׃‬
ֶַּ ‫ל־כן‬
ֵַּ ‫שר יהוה ַע‬
ַָּ ָ‫טֹוב־וְ י‬
➢ In the Lords goodness and compassion wishes to bring those who are lost into holiness.
➢ This may imply the different corrections coming from the Lord.
➢ He allows man to discover his deep reality and in so doing may return to Him.

3
Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006; 2006), Ps 25:3.
Raymund John P. Cipriano Sapiential Books
Redemptoris Mater Seminary February 18, 2023

Verse 9
He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way.
‫יַ ְד ֵרְך ֲענָ וִ ים ַב ִמ ְשפַָּט וִ ַילמֵַּד ֲענָ וִ ים ַד ְרכֹו׃‬
➢ The Hebrew term ‫’( ֲענָ וִ ים‬anavim, “humble”) usually refers to the oppressed, but in this
context, where the psalmist confesses his sin and asks for moral guidance, it apparently
refers to sinners who humble themselves before God and seek deliverance from their
sinful condition.4
➢ Meek—who are penitent. the way—and his way—God’s way of providence.5
➢ Man begins to descend to his reality of sin for from the beginning his egoism hindered
him from recognizing his wretched condition.

Verse 10
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and
his decrees.
‫סד וֶ ֱאמֶַּת ְלנ ְֹצ ֵַּרי ְב ִריתֹו וְ ֵעד ָֹתיו׃‬
ֶַּ ‫ל־א ְרחֹות יהוה ֶח‬
ָ ‫ָכ‬
➢ The text may be recalling the commandment given by Yahweh to his people on Mt.
Sinai, a way of life.
➢ The consequence of following the Lord is an experience of walking in his testimony.

Verse 11
For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great
‫ֹוני ִַּכי ַרב־הּוא׃‬
ִַּ ‫ת ַל ֲע‬
ַָּ ‫ן־ש ְמָך יהוה וְ ָס ַל ְח‬
ִ ‫ְל ַמ ַע‬
➢ The name of God is encompassing for by this it is manifesting his love and mercy.
➢ The forgiveness of a sinner will give greater glo9ry to the Lord.

Verse 12
Who are they who fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
‫חר׃‬
ַָּ ‫יֹורּנּו ְב ֶד ֶרְך יִ ְב‬
ֶ ‫י־זה ָה ִאיש יְ ֵַּרא יהוה‬
ֶַּ ‫ִמ‬
➢ The way of the Lord is the obedience to his will. Although man is free to reject the divine
plan of the Lord but at the same time in his willingness God wants to accompany him.

Verse 13
They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
‫נַ ְפשֹו ְבטֹוב ָתלִ ין וְ זַ ְרעֹו יִ ַירש ָא ֶַּרץ׃‬
➢ The Lord is presenting his promise for those who will remain faithful. The Lord will
lavish them with temporal and spiritual blessings.

4
Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006; 2006), Ps 25:9.
5
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, A. R. Fausset et al., A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old
and New Testaments, On Spine: Critical and Explanatory Commentary. (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research
Systems, Inc., 1997), Ps 25:8.
Raymund John P. Cipriano Sapiential Books
Redemptoris Mater Seminary February 18, 2023

Verse 14
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
‫הֹודיעַָּם׃‬
ִ ‫סֹוד יהוה ִל ֵיר ָאיו ּוב ְִַּריתֹו ְל‬
➢ The faithful shall experience communion with God.
➢ God will reveal to his friends the mysteries of the kingdom.

Verse 15
My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
‫שת ַרגְ ַָּלי׃‬
ֶַּ ‫הּוא־יֹוציא ֵמ ֶר‬
ִ ‫יני ָת ִמיד ֶאל־יהוה ִַּכי‬
ַַּ ‫ֵע‬
➢ The psalmist fix his trust to Yahweh for he will be saved from the snares of the fowler.

Verse 16
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
‫ה־א ַַּלי וְ ָחּנֵ ִַּני ִכי־יָ ִחיד וְ ָע ִַּני ָא ִַּני׃‬
ֵ ֵ‫ְפנ‬
➢ The solitary experience because of separating away from the source of life brings
desolation and distress. Reconciliation with God can bring man back two his original
state.

Verse 17
Relieve the troubles of my heart and bring me out of my distress.
‫יא ִַּני׃‬
ֵ ‫הֹוצ‬
ִ ‫צּוקֹותי‬
ַַּ ‫ָצרֹות ְל ָבבִַּי ִה ְר ִחיבּו ִמ ְמ‬
➢ The troubles of the heart can be compared to the waves of the sea that constantly rushes
and makes the boat unstable.

Verse 18
Consider my affliction and my trouble and forgive all my sins.
‫אותי׃‬
ַָּ ֹ ‫ל־חט‬
ַ ‫שא ְל ָכ‬
ַָּ ְ‫אה ָענְ ִַּיי וַ ֲע ָמ ִַּלי ו‬
ֵַּ ‫ְר‬
➢ This is a notable discovery of the psalmist that what causes him malady are the sins he
committed. The same sins that irritates him and unable him to have peace.

Verse 19
Consider how many are my foes and with what violent hatred they hate me.
‫אּוני׃‬
ִַּ ֵ‫מס ְשנ‬
ַָּ ‫י־רבּו וְ ִשנְ אַַּת ָח‬
ָ ‫ְר ֵאה־אֹויְ בַַּי ִַּכ‬
➢ The devil, the enemy, the accuser doesn’t stop until a person is downtrodden and cannot
come out of his sins.
➢ Here violence are arising in order to instill fear to the person.

Verse 20
O guard my life and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
‫יתי ָבְך׃‬
ִַּ ‫י־ח ִס‬
ָ ‫ל־אבֹוש ִכ‬
ֵ ‫שי וְ ַה ִצ ֵיל ִַּני ַא‬
ִַּ ‫ָש ְמ ַָּרה נַ ְפ‬
➢ For it is not by mans own strength that he can overcome all the temptations that is laid in
front of him but by entrusting himself to the Lord.
➢ The realization of not making oneself an idolatry.
Raymund John P. Cipriano Sapiential Books
Redemptoris Mater Seminary February 18, 2023

Verse 21
May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
‫יתיָך׃‬
ִ ִ‫רּוני ִַּכי ִקּו‬
ִַּ ‫ֹשר יִ ְצ‬
ֶַּ ‫תֹם־וָ י‬
➢ The integrity and uprightness of the Lord will be the one to keep the person who hopes in
him.
➢ Man cannot be good by his own efforts but by relaying on the grace coming from the
Lord. For this his waiting for the Lord turns into vain if he lives his life in hypocricy.

Verse 22
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.
‫רֹותיו׃‬
ָ ‫אל ִמ ַּכֹל ָצ‬
ֵַּ ‫ֹלהים ֶאת־יִ ְש ָר‬
ִ ‫ְפ ֵַּדה ֱא‬
➢ The hope of salvation for his chosen people.
➢ A remembering of what Yahweh has done in the past with his people.