Psalm 25 Poetry

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Psalm 25/Poetry
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About the Poetics Layer

Exploring the Psalms as poetry is crucial for understanding and experiencing the psalms and thus for faithfully translating them into another language. This layer is comprised of two main parts: Poetic Structure and Poetic Features.


Poetic Structure

  What is Poetic Structure?

In poetic structure, we analyse the structure of the psalm beginning at the most basic level of the structure: the line (also known as the “colon” or “hemistich”). Then, based on the perception of patterned similarities (and on the assumption that the whole psalm is structured hierarchically), we argue for the grouping of lines into verses, verses into sub-sections, sub-sections into larger sections, etc. Because patterned similarities might be of various kinds (syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, sonic) the analysis of poetic structure draws on all of the previous layers (especially the Discourse layer).

Poetic Macro-structure

At-a-Glance


  Legend

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text* Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text* Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.
By David v. 2 v. 3 v. 4 v. 5 v. 6 v. 8 v. 9 v. 10 v. 11 Basis for hope YHWH is good and just,loyal and faithful Hope I hope  ​  ​ in you, YHWH confidence amidst distress v. 12 v. 13 v. 14 v. 16* v. 15* v. 17 v. 18 v. 19 v. 20 v. 21 v. 22 YHWH guidesthe one who fears him ss Hope Forgive my sins, and rescue me from my distressFor I hope ​ ​ in you Guide me in your way Forgive me Because of your name, YHWH,forgive my guilt confidence amidst distresssecurity confidence א ב ג ד ה ז ח ט י כ ל מ נ ס פ ע צ ר ר ש ת פ ?ק  ?ו  (קוה) (קוה) יהוה v. 1 v. 7
123456789101112131416*15*171819202122 inclusio לְדָוִ֡ד  יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֵלֶ֥יךָ אֱֽלֹהַ֗י ׃ אֶשָּֽׂאנַפְשִׁ֥יאֵב֑וֹשָׁה אַל־בָ֭טַחְתִּיבְּךָ֣ אַל־יַֽעַלְצ֖וּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃  יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ לֹ֣א קֹ֭וֶיךָגַּ֣ם כָּל־ הַבּוֹגְדִ֥ים רֵיקָֽם׃יֵ֝בֹ֗שׁוּ הוֹדִיעֵ֑נִי יְ֭הוָהיךָ דְּרָכֶ֣׃ לַמְּדֵֽנִיאֹ֖רְחוֹתֶ֣יךָ נִי בַאֲמִתֶּ֨ךָ ׀הַדְרִ֘יכֵ֤ כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעִ֑י לַמְּדֵ֗נִי* כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃קִ֝וִּ֗יתִיאוֹתְךָ֥   יְהוָ֑הלְמַֽעַן־שִׁמְךָ֥ וְֽסָלַחְתָּ֥ לַ֝עֲוֺנִ֗י כִּ֣י רַב־הֽוּא׃ יְהוָ֑ה יְרֵ֣אמִי־זֶ֣ה הָ֭אִישׁ  יִבְחָֽר׃ י֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְנַ֭פְשׁוֹ בְּט֣וֹב תָּלִ֑ין וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ יִ֣ירַשׁ אָֽרֶץ׃יו ירֵאָ֑ לִיְ֭הוָה ס֣וֹד לְהוֹדִיעָֽם׃בְרִית֗וֹוּ֝י וְחָנֵּ֑נִי פְּנֵה־אֵלַ֥כִּֽי־יָחִ֖יד וְעָנִ֣י אָֽנִי׃  יְהוָ֑ה תָּ֭מִיד אֶל־עֵינַ֣י׃ רַגְלָֽירֶ֣שֶׁת מֵ יוֹצִ֖יאכִּ֤י הֽוּא־  הִרְחִ֑יבוּ לְבָבִ֣י צָר֣וֹת׃ נִיהוֹצִיאֵֽמְּצֽוּקוֹתַ֗י מִ֝ עָ֭נְיִי וַעֲמָלִ֑י רְאֵ֣הא לְכָל־חַטֹּאותָֽי׃ וְ֝שָׂ֗־אוֹיְבַ֥י כִּי־רָ֑בּוּרְאֵֽהנְאַ֖ת חָמָ֣ס שְׂנֵאֽוּנִי׃ וְשִׂ וְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי נַ֭פְשִׁי שָׁמְרָ֣ה׃ חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ־ כִּֽיאֵ֝ב֗וֹשׁאַל־ יִצְּר֑וּנִיתֹּם־וָיֹ֥שֶׁר ׃קִוִּיתִֽיךָ כִּ֝֗י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הִיםפְּדֵ֣ה אֱ֭לֹמִ֝כֹּ֗ל צָֽרוֹתָיו׃   יְ֭הוָה ־רַחֲמֶ֣יךָזְכֹרוַחֲסָדֶ֑יךָ כִּ֖י מֵעוֹלָ֣ם הֵֽמָּה׃זְכֹּ֥רחַטֹּ֤אות נְעוּרַ֨י ׀ וּפְשָׁעַ֗י אַל־תִּ֫־לִי־אַ֑תָּה זְכָרכְּחַסְדְּךָ֥ ׃ יְהוָֽהךָ֣ טוּבְלְמַ֖עַן  יְהוָ֑ה־וְיָשָׁ֥ר טוֹב׃ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ חַטָּאִ֣ים יוֹרֶ֖ה עַל־כֵּ֤ן עֲ֭נָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט דְרֵ֣ךְיַוֹ׃דַּרְכּֽוִֽילַמֵּ֖ד עֲנָוִ֣ים  חֶ֣סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֑ת יְ֭הוָהכָּל־אָרְח֣וֹת  וְעֵדֹתָֽיו׃בְ֝רִית֗וֹלְנֹצְרֵ֥י  way + teach (ABAB)undefined. remember1st and 2nd personundefined.undefined. similar themes: hope/confidence and shameundefined. 7 acrostic letters16 lines2nd personundefined.undefined.undefined. look (resh word)similar sounds: ושׂundefined.undefined. 7 acrostic letters3rd person (except middle verse, v. 11, is 2nd person)ABC X ABC structureundefined.undefined.undefined. 7 + 1 acrostic letters16 linespredominantly 2nd personAB X BA structureA. peB. hope & protectionX. reshB. hope & protectionA. pesimilar theme: sufferingundefined.undefined.undefined.undefined......undefined. bring out ofbody parts: eyes, feet, heartundefined.undefined. 3rd person"way"/"pathway"ABC structure (cf. vv. 12–14)A. instructs... in the wayB. 3//3 rhythm, yiqtolsC. his covenantundefined.undefined.undefined.... 3rd person"fear"ABC structure (cf. vv. 8–10)A. instructs in the wayB. 3//3 rhythm, yiqtolsC. his covenantundefined.undefined.undefined.... ABAB structureA. GuardB. because I...A. Keep safeB. because I...undefined..... inclusio:Godmy soul/lifeshamehopeundefined.undefined.undefined.undefined. By David.To you, YHWH,I lift my soul, my God.I trust in you; do not let me be disappointed!Do not let my enemies rejoice over me!Yes, none who hope in you will be disappointed.Worthless people who act unfaithfully will be disappointed.Show me your ways, YHWH;teach me your paths!Guide me in your truth;teach me; because you are the God who saves me.I hope in you all day long. The troubles of my heart have expanded.Bring me out of my distresses!Look at my affliction and my hardship,and forgive all my sins!Look at my enemies, how they have multipliedand how they hate me with violent hatred!Guard my life and rescue me!Do not let me be disappointed, because I have taken refuge in you!May integrity and justice keep me safe,because I hope in you.God, redeem Israelfrom all their troubles! Because of your name, YHWH,forgive my guilt, because it is great!Who is the person who fears YHWH?He will instruct him in the way he should choose.He himself will stay in a good place,and his offspring will possess land.YHWH's personal counsel and his covenantare for those who fear him, for teaching them.Turn towards me and be merciful to me,because I am alone and afflicted.My eyes are always on YHWH,because he will bring my feet out of a net. Remember your compassion, YHWH,and [remember] your acts of loyalty, because they have been around forever.Do not remember my youthful sins or my rebellious acts!Remember me according to your loyalty, because of your goodness, YHWH!YHWH is good and just;therefore, he instructs sinners in the way.He guides afflicted people in justiceand teaches afflicted people his way.All of YHWH's paths are loyalty and faithfulnessfor those who keep his covenant and his demands. seam inclusio

Notes

Acrostic structure

Psalm 25 is an acrostic poem; each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Like many biblical acrostics, however, the poem sometimes deviates from the expected alphabetic pattern. There are four points of apparent deviation:

  1. There is no waw verse.
  2. There is an additional pe verse at the end of the poem (v. 22).
  3. There is no qof verse.
  4. There are two resh verses (vv. 18–19).

The first two deviations occur also in Psalm 34, suggesting an intentional and established pattern.[1] The second two deviations are unique to Psalm 25, but they clearly contribute to the psalm's artistry, implying deliberate design rather than scribal error (see further The Missing Qof in Psalm 25:18). The double resh (vv. 18–19) (one of which has replaced the qof) stands at the center of a chiasm:[2] 

 A. pe (v. 16)
   B. hope and rescue (vv. 15, 17)
     X. double resh (vv. 18–19)
   B. hope and rescue (vv. 20–21)
 A. pe (v. 22)

This chiasm that spans vv. 16–22 helps to account for three of the deviations from the expected acrostic pattern. Without the double resh, the missing qof, and the additional pe at the end of the psalm, there would be no chiasm. This suggests that the poet has deliberately diverged from the standard alphabetic structure to create a chiasm. The disruption of the acrostic at the center of the chiasm (double resh and missing qof) contributes to the prominence of this center point.

One other feature related to the acrostic structure merits discussion: the order of pe (v. 16) and ayin (v. 15). Most biblical acrostics have the now-standard ayin-pe order, while several biblical acrostics have the order pe-ayin (e.g., MT Lamentations 2, 3, 4; LXX Prov 31). Scribes sometimes updated the order of these verses to reflect their preferred sequence (compare, e.g., Lam 1 in MT [ayin-pe] and 4QLam [pe-ayin]; and Prov 31 in MT [ayin-pe] and LXX [pe-ayin]). There is good evidence to suggest that this kind of updating was applied to certain psalms as well, especially Psalm 34 and Psalm 37.[3] These two psalms originally had a pe-ayin order, which has been updated to ayin-pe (and the update is reflected in all of our witnesses). Given the structural similarities between Psalm 34 and Psalm 25 – both lack a waw verse and add a pe verse; both are also written by David – it would not be surprising if Psalm 25 also originally had a pe-ayin order.[4] Indeed, a pe-ayin order results in a beautiful poetic arrangement (see the chiasm discussed above). If the traditional ayin-pe order is adopted, then the chiasm would be lost.[5]

Three part structure

In addition to the acrostic structure, the psalm is structured into three main sections: (1) alef—het (vv. 1–7); (2) tet—samek (vv. 8–14); (3) pe—taw+pe (vv. 16, 15, 17–22).[6]. Each section contains seven letters of the acrostic, except for the last section, which has an additional letter (the final pe, hence: 7+1). Despite the extra letter in the final section, this section has the same number of lines as the first section: 16 lines. (The extra lines in vv. 5, 7 contribute to this balance.)

The first section (vv. 1–7) addresses YHWH in the second person, and it is bound by an inclusio – vocative "YHWH" in vv. 1a, 7c, which functions to open and close the initial address.

The second, central section (vv. 8–14) talks about YHWH in the third person, except for the central verse of this section (v. 11), which addresses YHWH directly. This central section has an ABCXA'B'C structure that marks v. 11 as the central verse of the psalm.[7]

The final section (vv. 15, 16, 17–22) is arranged as a chiasm (see above).

The end of the final section hearkens back to the beginning of the psalm (see e.g., "my soul," "God," "hope," and "come to shame"), thus forming an inclusio around the whole poem.[8]

Line Divisions

  Legend

Line division divides the poem into lines and line groupings. We determine line divisions based on a combination of external evidence (Masoretic accents, pausal forms, manuscripts) and internal evidence (syntax, prosodic word counting and patterned relation to other lines). Moreover, we indicate line-groupings by using additional spacing.

When line divisions are uncertain, we consult some of the many psalms manuscripts which lay out the text in lines. Then, if a division attested in one of these manuscripts/versions influences our decision to divide the text at a certain point, we place a green symbol (G, DSS, or MT) to the left of the line in question.

Poetic line division legend
Pausal form Pausal forms are highlighted in yellow.
Accent which typically corresponds to line division Accents which typically correspond to line divisions are indicated by red text.
| Clause boundaries are indicated by a light gray vertical line in between clauses.
G Line divisions that follow Greek manuscripts are indicated by a bold green G.
DSS Line divisions that follow the Dead Sea Scrolls are indicated by a bold green DSS.
M Line divisions that follow Masoretic manuscripts are indicated by a bold green M.
Number of prosodic words The number of prosodic words are indicated in blue text.
Prosodic words greater than 5 The number of prosodic words if greater than 5 is indicated by bold blue text.

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text* Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text* Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.
לְדָוִ֡ד אֵלֶ֥יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה |אֱֽלֹהַ֗י  א׃שָּֽׂנַפְשִׁ֥י אֶ| וֹשָׁהב֑ אַל־אֵ| בְּךָ֣ בָ֭טַחְתִּי|י׃ לִֽאַל־יַֽעַלְצ֖וּ אֹיְבַ֣י |שׁוּ בֹ֑גַּ֣ם כָּל־קֹ֭וֶיךָ לֹ֣א יֵ| ם׃קָֽיֵ֝בֹ֗שׁוּ הַבּוֹגְדִ֥ים רֵי|נִי עֵ֑דְּרָכֶ֣יךָ יְ֭הוָה הוֹדִי|נִי׃ דֵֽאֹ֖רְחוֹתֶ֣יךָ לַמְּ| ךָ ׀תֶּ֨הַדְרִ֘יכֵ֤נִי בַאֲמִ|י עִ֑ כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁ| נִידֵ֗לַמְּ*| וֹם׃יּֽאוֹתְךָ֥ קִ֝וִּ֗יתִי כָּל־הַ|יְ֭הוָה  זְכֹר־רַחֲמֶ֣יךָ| מָּה׃הֵֽכִּ֖י מֵעוֹלָ֣ם  |יךָ דֶ֑וַחֲסָ By David.To you, YHWH,I lift my soul, my God.I trust in you; do not let me be disappointed!Do not let my enemies rejoice over me!Yes, none who hope in you will be disappointed.Worthless people who act unfaithfully will be disappointed.Show me your ways, YHWH;teach me your paths!Guide me in your truth;teach me; because you are the God who saves me.I hope in you all day long.Remember your compassion, YHWH,and [remember] your acts of loyalty, because they have been around forever.Do not remember my youthful sins or my rebellious acts!Remember me according to your loyalty, because of your goodness, YHWH!YHWH is good and just;therefore, he instructs sinners in the way.He guides afflicted people in justiceand teaches afflicted people his way.All of YHWH's paths are loyalty and faithfulnessfor those who keep his covenant and his demands.Because of your name, YHWH,forgive my guilt, because it is great!Who is the person who fears YHWH?He will instruct him in the way he should choose.He himself will stay in a good place,and his offspring will possess land.YHWH's personal counsel and his covenantare for those who fear him, for teaching them.Turn towards me and be merciful to me,because I am alone and afflicted.My eyes are always on YHWH,because he will bring my feet out of a net.The troubles of my heart have expanded.Bring me out of my distresses!Look at my affliction and my hardship,and forgive all my sins!Look at my enemies, how they have multipliedand how they hate me with violent hatred!Guard my life and rescue me!Do not let me be disappointed, because I have taken refuge in you!May integrity and justice keep me safe,because I hope in you.God, redeem Israelfrom all their troubles! 123456789101112131416*15*171819202122 2333433224324423243343244333322334323223332232 ה וָ֑לְמַֽעַן־שִׁמְךָ֥ יְה|וּא׃ הֽוְֽסָלַחְתָּ֥ לַ֝עֲוֺנִ֗י כִּ֣י רַב־| הוָ֑מִי־זֶ֣ה הָ֭אִישׁ יְרֵ֣א יְה|ר׃ חָֽיִבְ |י֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ |ין לִ֑נַ֭פְשׁוֹ בְּט֣וֹב תָּ| רֶץ׃אָֽוְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ יִ֣ירַשׁ יו אָ֑יְ֭הוָה לִירֵ ס֣וֹד| ם׃עָֽ לְהוֹדִי| וּ֝בְרִית֗וֹ|נִי נֵּ֑ וְחָ| פְּנֵה־אֵלַ֥י|נִי׃ אָֽכִּֽי־יָחִ֖יד וְעָנִ֣י |ה וָ֑עֵינַ֣י תָּ֭מִיד אֶל־יְה|י׃ לָֽכִּ֤י הֽוּא־יוֹצִ֖יא מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת רַגְ | רתִּ֫זְכֹּ֥חַטֹּ֤אות נְעוּרַ֨י ׀ וּפְשָׁעַ֗י אַל־תָּה אַ֑כְּחַסְדְּךָ֥ זְכָר־לִי־|ה׃ וָֽלְמַ֖עַן טוּבְךָ֣ יְה|ה וָ֑טוֹב־וְיָשָׁ֥ר יְה|רֶךְ׃ דָּֽיוֹרֶ֖ה חַטָּאִ֣ים בַּ עַל־כֵּ֤ן|ט פָּ֑יַדְרֵ֣ךְ עֲ֭נָוִים בַּמִּשְׁ| וֹ׃כּֽוִֽילַמֵּ֖ד עֲנָוִ֣ים דַּרְת מֶ֑כָּל־אָרְח֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה חֶ֣סֶד וֶאֱ| יו׃תָֽלְנֹצְרֵ֥י בְ֝רִית֗וֹ וְעֵדֹ |יבוּ חִ֑לְבָבִ֣י הִרְ צָר֣וֹת|נִי׃ אֵֽמִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתַ֗י הוֹצִי|י לִ֑רְאֵ֣ה עָ֭נְיִי וַעֲמָ|י׃ תָֽוְ֝שָׂ֗א לְכָל־חַטֹּאו| בּוּרָ֑כִּי־ |רְאֵֽה־אוֹיְבַ֥י |וּנִי׃ אֽוְשִׂנְאַ֖ת חָמָ֣ס שְׂנֵ|נִי לֵ֑ וְהַצִּי| נַ֭פְשִׁי שָׁמְרָ֣ה|ךְ׃ בָֽ כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי | אַל־אֵ֝ב֗וֹשׁ|וּנִי ר֑תֹּם־וָיֹ֥שֶׁר יִצְּ|יךָ׃ תִֽקִוִּי כִּ֝֗יל אֵ֑פְּדֵ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים אֶת־יִשְׂרָ|רוֹתָיו׃ צָֽמִ֝כֹּ֗ל 

Notes

  • With one minor exception (v. 1, see below), all of the proposed line divisions follow the the Septuagint (according to Rahlfs 1931), which preserves an ancient Hebrew tradition of line division.[9] In vv. 1–2, 5, 6, the division of the Septuagint is superior to that of the Masoretic accents (see Grammar notes). Otherwise, the proposed line divisions also follow the Masoretic accents.[10]
  • vv. 1–2. The vocative אֱֽלֹהַ֗י, which the Masoretic accents group with v. 2, should be grouped rather with v. 1 (so LXX; see Grammar note).
  • v. 1. The question remains whether v. 1 should be regarded as one line (so LXX) or two lines (so, e.g., the old Babylonian manuscript: Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Ms. Or. Qu. 680.). A division into two lines is preferred for the following reasons:
    • (1) A two-line division would be more consistent with the rest of the psalm, both in terms of prosodic word count (2/3) and in terms of the predominance of two-line verses. By contrast, if v. 1 were a single line, it would be the only one-line verse in the psalm. It would also be the longest line in the psalm in terms of prosodic words (5).
    • (2) A two-line division would create an interesting pattern, whereby the first and last line of the psalm (vv. 1, 22), along with the two middle lines (vv. 10–11) feature enjambment, where a single clause runs across two lines.
    • (3) Verse 1 has an AB/AB pattern – A. To you, B. YHWH, A. I lift my soul, B. my God – which is the kind of pattern that we might expect to find across two parallel lines.
  • v. 5. The division in v. 5a disagrees with the accents, but it follows the LXX, the pausal form, and Berlin Or. Qu. 680 (see Grammar note).
  • v. 6. The division in v. 6 disagrees with the accents, but it follows the LXX (see Grammar note). The MT division would be more balanced in terms of prosodic words (3/3), but the preferred division results in slightly better syllabic balance.
  • v. 22. As with v. 1, it is not clear whether v. 22 consists of one line or two lines. (The Septuagint manuscript tradition is divided on this point.) The accents suggest a two-line division, which would be consistent with the rest of the psalm.

Poetic Features

  What are Poetic Features?

In poetic features, we identify and describe the “Top 3 Poetic Features” for each Psalm. Poetic features might include intricate patterns (e.g., chiasms), long range correspondences across the psalm, evocative uses of imagery, sound-plays, allusions to other parts of the Bible, and various other features or combinations of features. For each poetic feature, we describe both the formal aspects of the feature and the poetic effect of the feature. We assume that there is no one-to-one correspondence between a feature’s formal aspects and its effect, and that similar forms might have very different effects depending on their contexts. The effect of a poetic feature is best determined (subjectively) by a thoughtful examination of the feature against the background of the psalm’s overall message and purpose.



The ABC's of Hope

  Legend

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text* Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text* Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.


123456789101112131416*15*171819202122 מַֽעַן־שִׁמְךָ֥ יְהוָ֑ה לְוְֽסָלַחְתָּ֥ לַ֝עֲוֺנִ֗י כִּ֣י רַב־הֽוּא׃ ​ ​ י־זֶ֣ה הָ֭אִישׁ יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑המִי֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ יִבְחָֽר׃ ​ ​ פְשׁוֹ בְּט֣וֹב תָּלִ֑ין נַ֭וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ יִ֣ירַשׁ אָֽרֶץ׃​ ​ יְ֭הוָה לִירֵאָ֑יו  וֹדס֣וּ֝בְרִית֗וֹ לְהוֹדִיעָֽם׃​ ​ נֵה־אֵלַ֥י וְחָנֵּ֑נִי פְּכִּֽי־יָחִ֖יד וְעָנִ֣י אָֽנִי׃ ​ ​ ינַ֣י תָּ֭מִיד אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה עֵכִּ֤י הֽוּא־יוֹצִ֖יא מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת רַגְלָֽי׃ ​ ​  יְ֭הוָה  כֹר־רַחֲמֶ֣יךָזְוַחֲסָדֶ֑יךָ כִּ֖י מֵעוֹלָ֣ם הֵֽמָּה׃​ ​ טֹּ֤אות נְעוּרַ֨י ׀ וּפְשָׁעַ֗י אַל־תִּ֫זְכֹּ֥רחַכְּחַסְדְּךָ֥ זְכָר־לִי־אַ֑תָּה ​ ​ לְמַ֖עַן טוּבְךָ֣ יְהוָֽה׃ ​ ​ וֹב־וְיָשָׁ֥ר יְהוָ֑ה טיוֹרֶ֖ה חַטָּאִ֣ים בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃  עַל־כֵּ֤ן​ ​ דְרֵ֣ךְ עֲ֭נָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט יַוִֽילַמֵּ֖ד עֲנָוִ֣ים דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃​ ​ ל־אָרְח֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה חֶ֣סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֑ת כָּלְנֹצְרֵ֥י בְ֝רִית֗וֹ וְעֵדֹתָֽיו׃​ ​  By David.To you, YHWH, ​I lift my soul, my God.I trust in you; do not let me be disappointed! ​Do not let my enemies rejoice over me!Yes, none who hope in you will be disappointed. ​Worthless people who act unfaithfully will be disappointed.Show me your ways, YHWH; ​teach me your paths!Guide me in your truth; ​teach me; because you are the God who saves me. ​I hope in you all day long. The troubles of my heart have expanded. ​Bring me out of my distresses!Look at my affliction and my hardship, ​and forgive all my sins!Look at my enemies, how they have multiplied ​and how they hate me with violent hatred!Guard my life and rescue me! ​Do not let me be disappointed, because I have taken refuge in you!May integrity and justice keep me safe, ​because I hope in you.God, redeem Israel ​from all their troubles! Because of your name, YHWH, ​forgive my guilt, because it is great!Who is the person who fears YHWH? ​He will instruct him in the way he should choose.He himself will stay in a good place, ​and his offspring will possess land.YHWH's personal counsel and his covenant  ​are for those who fear him, for teaching them.Turn towards me and be merciful to me, ​because I am alone and afflicted.My eyes are always on YHWH, ​because he will bring my feet out of a net. Remember your compassion, YHWH, ​and [remember] your acts of loyalty, because they have been around forever.Do not remember my youthful sins or my rebellious acts! ​Remember me according to your loyalty,  ​because of your goodness, YHWH!YHWH is good and just; ​therefore, he instructs sinners in the way.He guides afflicted people in justice ​and teaches afflicted people his way.All of YHWH's paths are loyalty and faithfulness ​for those who keep his covenant and his demands. ?ק  ?ו  לְדָוִ֡ד לֶ֥יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֵאֱֽלֹהַ֗י  נַפְשִׁ֥י אֶשָּֽׂא׃​ ​ ךָ֣ בָ֭טַחְתִּי אַל־אֵב֑וֹשָׁהבְּאַל־יַֽעַלְצ֖וּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃ ​ ​ יךָ לֹ֣א יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ קֹ֭וֶם כָּל־גַּ֣ הַבּוֹגְדִ֥ים רֵיקָֽם׃יֵ֝בֹ֗שׁוּ​ ​ רָכֶ֣יךָ יְ֭הוָה הוֹדִיעֵ֑נִי דְּאֹ֖רְחוֹתֶ֣יךָ לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃ ​ ​ דְרִ֘יכֵ֤נִי בַאֲמִתֶּ֨ךָ ׀הַלַמְּדֵ֗נִי כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעִ֑י *​ ​ יתִי כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃קִ֝וִּ֗אוֹתְךָ֥ ​ ​  לְבָבִ֣י הִרְחִ֑יבוּ  ר֣וֹתצָמִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתַ֗י הוֹצִיאֵֽנִי׃ ​ ​ אֵ֣ה עָ֭נְיִי וַעֲמָלִ֑י רְוְ֝שָׂ֗א לְכָל־חַטֹּאותָֽי׃ ​ ​ אֵֽה־אוֹיְבַ֥י כִּי־רָ֑בּוּרְוְשִׂנְאַ֖ת חָמָ֣ס שְׂנֵאֽוּנִי׃ ​ ​ נַ֭פְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי  מְרָ֣השָׁאַל־אֵ֝ב֗וֹשׁ כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ׃ ​ ​ ם־וָיֹ֥שֶׁר יִצְּר֑וּנִי תֹּיתִֽיךָ׃קִוִּ כִּ֝֗י​ ​ דֵ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל פְּמִ֝כֹּ֗ל צָֽרוֹתָיו׃ ​ ​  hope hope

Feature

Psalm 25 is an acrostic poem; each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Two letters are missing, however: the letter waw (see also Ps 34) and the letter qof (cf. The Missing Qof in Psalm 25:18). Interestingly, these two letters are the two main consonants in the Hebrew word for "hope" (קוה).[11] This word occurs three times in Psalm 25 (vv. 3, 5, 21), which is more than in any other psalm. In addition to the three-fold use of the word "hope" (קוה), the theme of hope is present in several other verses (vv. 1–2, 15). In fact, expressions of hope (together with the related concept of "shame") help frame the psalm (vv. 1–3, vv. 20–21).

Effect

The theme of "hope" rises to prominence by the repetition of the word "hope" itself (קוה, vv. 3, 5, 21), the expressions of hope that frame the psalm (vv. 1–3, 5, 21), and the irregularities in the psalm's acrostic structure.

The alphabet is a symbol of completeness.[12] In an acrostic poem, the poet takes a topic (e.g., Torah [Ps 119], or the virtuous woman [Prov 31]) and expounds on it completely (i.e., from every angle necessary to gain a sufficient understanding), so that the reader walks away with a high-resolution image of the topic (i.e., he/she understands it “from A to Z;” see also Pss 34, 37, 111, 112). In Psalm 25, the topic is hope: what does it look like to hope in YHWH in the midst of trouble? (For the answer to this question, see the other Poetic Features!)

Forgiveness at the Center

  Legend

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text* Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text* Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.
 עָ֭נְיִי וַעֲמָלִ֑י רְאֵ֣ה׃ שָׂ֗א לְכָל־חַטֹּאותָֽיוְ֝​ ​ ־אוֹיְבַ֥י כִּי־רָ֑בּוּרְאֵֽהוְשִׂנְאַ֖ת חָמָ֣ס שְׂנֵאֽוּנִי׃ ​ ​  My eyes are always on YHWH, ​because he will bring my feet out of a net.The troubles of my heart have expanded. ​Bring me out of my distresses! נֵה־אֵלַ֥י וְחָנֵּ֑נִי פְּכִּֽי־יָחִ֖יד וְעָנִ֣י אָֽנִי׃ ​ ​  Turn towards me and be merciful to me, ​because I am alone and afflicted. לְדָוִ֡ד אֵלֶ֥יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֱֽלֹהַ֗י  נַפְשִׁ֥י אֶשָּֽׂא׃​ ​ בְּךָ֣ בָ֭טַחְתִּי אַל־אֵב֑וֹשָׁהאַל־יַֽעַלְצ֖וּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃ ​ ​ גַּ֣ם כָּל־קֹ֭וֶיךָ לֹ֣א יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ יֵ֝בֹ֗שׁוּ הַבּוֹגְדִ֥ים רֵיקָֽם׃​ ​ דְּרָכֶ֣יךָ יְ֭הוָה הוֹדִיעֵ֑נִי אֹ֖רְחוֹתֶ֣יךָ לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃ ​ ​ הַדְרִ֘יכֵ֤נִי בַאֲמִתֶּ֨ךָ ׀לַמְּדֵ֗נִי כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעִ֑י *​ ​ אוֹתְךָ֥ קִ֝וִּ֗יתִי כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃​ ​  יְ֭הוָה  זְכֹר־רַחֲמֶ֣יךָוַחֲסָדֶ֑יךָ כִּ֖י מֵעוֹלָ֣ם הֵֽמָּה׃​ ​ חַטֹּ֤אות נְעוּרַ֨י ׀ וּפְשָׁעַ֗י אַל־תִּ֫זְכֹּ֥רכְּחַסְדְּךָ֥ זְכָר־לִי־אַ֑תָּה ​ ​ לְמַ֖עַן טוּבְךָ֣ יְהוָֽה׃ ​ ​  By David.To you, YHWH, ​I lift my soul, my God.I trust in you; do not let me be disappointed! ​Do not let my enemies rejoice over me!Yes, none who hope in you will be disappointed. ​Worthless people who act unfaithfully will be disappointed.Show me your ways, YHWH; ​teach me your paths!Guide me in your truth; ​teach me; because you are the God who saves me. ​I hope in you all day long. Remember your compassion, YHWH, ​and [remember] your acts of loyalty, because they have been around forever.Do not remember my youthful sins or my rebellious acts! ​Remember me according to your loyalty,  ​because of your goodness, YHWH! דֵ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל פְּמִ֝כֹּ֗ל צָֽרוֹתָיו׃ ​ ​  נַ֭פְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי  שָׁמְרָ֣האַל־אֵ֝ב֗וֹשׁ כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ׃ ​ ​ תֹּם־וָיֹ֥שֶׁר יִצְּר֑וּנִי קִוִּיתִֽיךָ׃ כִּ֝֗י​ ​  עֵינַ֣י תָּ֭מִיד אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֤י הֽוּא־יוֹצִ֖יא מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת רַגְלָֽי׃ ​ ​ לְבָבִ֣י הִרְחִ֑יבוּ  צָר֣וֹתמִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתַ֗י הוֹצִיאֵֽנִי׃  ​ ​  God, redeem Israel ​from all their troubles! Guard my life and rescue me! ​Do not let me be disappointed, because I have taken refuge in you!May integrity and justice keep me safe, ​because I hope in you. Look at my affliction and my hardship, ​and forgive all my sins!Look at my enemies, how they have multiplied ​and how they hate me with violent hatred!  מִי־זֶ֣ה הָ֭אִישׁ יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑ה יִבְחָֽר׃ י֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ​ ​  תָּלִ֑ין בְּט֣וֹב וֹנַ֭פְשׁ אָֽרֶץ׃יִ֣ירַשׁ וֹזַרְע֗וְ֝​ ​ יְ֭הוָה לִירֵאָ֑יו  ס֣וֹד לְהוֹדִיעָֽם׃בְרִית֗וֹוּ֝​ ​  טוֹב־וְיָשָׁ֥ר יְהוָ֑ה ׃ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ חַטָּאִ֣ים יוֹרֶ֖ה עַל־כֵּ֤ן  עֲ֭נָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט יַדְרֵ֣ךְ׃וֹ עֲנָוִ֣ים דַּרְכּֽילַמֵּ֖דוִֽ​ ​ כָּל־אָרְח֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה חֶ֣סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֑ת  וְעֵדֹתָֽיו׃בְ֝רִית֗וֹלְנֹצְרֵ֥י ​ ​  YHWH is good and just; ​therefore, he instructs sinners in the way.He guides afflicted people in justice ​and teaches afflicted people his way.All of YHWH's paths are loyalty and faithfulness ​for those who keep his covenant and his demands. Who is the person who fears YHWH? ​He will instruct him in the way he should choose.He himself will stay in a good place, ​and his offspring will possess land.YHWH's personal counsel and his covenant  ​are for those who fear him, for teaching them. 123456789101112131416*15*171819202122 Because of your name, YHWH, ​forgive my guilt, because it is great! לְמַֽעַן־שִׁמְךָ֥ יְהוָ֑ה  כִּ֣י רַב־הֽוּא׃וְֽסָלַחְתָּ֥ לַ֝עֲוֺנִ֗י​ ​  16 lines, 7 letters 16 lines, 7+1 letters Description Description Request Request Request 22 lines 22 lines A B C A B C X

Feature

Psalm 25 has three main sections: vv. 1–7, 8–14, 15–22 (see Poetic Structure).

The first section (vv. 1–7) and the third section (vv. 15–22) are, for the most part, addressed to YHWH in the second person. In terms of speech acts, these sections are requests (see Speech Act Analysis). These two outer sections are also approximately the same length (16 lines, 7[+1] acrostic letters).

The central section (vv. 8–14) is unique in that it is, for the most part, a description rather than a request, and it talks about YHWH in the third person. Verse 11 stands out as the central verse in this section. Not only is it the one verse in this section that addresses YHWH directly and presents a request, but it is also the center of an ABCXABC structure: A (vv. 8, 12) = "instructs in the way;" B (vv. 9, 13) = yiqtol verbs, anaphoric references to the previous verse, bet prepositional phrase, and waw conjoined clauses; C (vv. 10, 14) = "his covenant;" X (v. 11) = direct address to YHWH. Thus, v. 11, a request for forgiveness, is at the very center of the psalm.[13] Verse 11 is also the center of the whole psalm in terms of line count, being preceded on either side by 22 lines (the number of letters in the alphabet!).

The third section (vv. 15–22) has a chiastic structure. The outer sections of the chiasm (vv. 16, 22) begin with pe and similar sounds: פְּנֵה־אֵלַי (v. 16), פְּדֵה אֱלֹהִים.[14] The innermost sections of the chiasm (vv. 18–19) are verses that begin with רְאוּ ("look at"). The other verses in the chiasm (vv. 15, 17 // vv. 20–21) use language of hope and rescue. The center of this chiasm (vv. 18–19) contains another request for forgiveness (v. 18b). Thus, the two most explicit requests for forgiveness in the psalm (see also vv. 6–7) are placed in structurally prominent positions. The fact that v. 18 begins with a resh instead of the expected letter, qof, further contributes to the prominence of this verse.

Effect

The poetic structure highlights the theme of forgiveness. Although forgiveness is only mentioned in two verses (vv. 11, 18b), these verses (especially v. 11) are located at central, prominent positions within the poem. The poem is clearly drawing attention to the theme of forgiveness.

But why highlight forgiveness in this way, especially when the psalmist was facing the more immediate problem of violence from enemies (vv. 2b, 19)? Perhaps it is because the psalmist realized that the root of his problem was his sin, and, therefore, the deepest and ultimate solution to his problem was not rescue from his enemies but the forgiveness of his sin. The psalmist seems to have realized that his enemies were only a symptom of a deeper problem, namely, his sin (see esp. 2 Sam 7:14; 1 Kgs 2:1–4; Ps 89:20–38; cf. Deut 28; 32; etc.).

As Calvin explains in his commentary on this psalm, "David, in order to obtain assistance from God, first acknowledges that God had justly made use of this as a means of chastising and punishing him for his sins; and, therefore, he prays for their forgiveness, that he may at once enjoy assurance of the divine favor, and obtain deliverance."[15]

By placing forgiveness at the center, the psalmist teaches those who hope in YHWH (see v. 3a) to view their troubles through a covenantal lens (see e.g., Deut 28). Covenant disobedience leads to many troubles. Therefore, if Israel is to be redeemed "from all their troubles" (v. 22), YHWH must forgive their sins (see Jer 31:31–34).

YHWH's Ancient Paths

  Legend

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text* Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text* Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.
123456789101112131416*15*171819202122 לְדָוִ֡ד אֵלֶ֥יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֱֽלֹהַ֗י  נַפְשִׁ֥י אֶשָּֽׂא׃​ ​ בְּךָ֣ בָ֭טַחְתִּי אַל־אֵב֑וֹשָׁהאַל־יַֽעַלְצ֖וּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃ ​ ​ גַּ֣ם כָּל־קֹ֭וֶיךָ לֹ֣א יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ יֵ֝בֹ֗שׁוּ הַבּוֹגְדִ֥ים רֵיקָֽם׃​ ​  הוֹדִיעֵ֑נִי יְ֭הוָה דְּרָכֶ֣יךָאֹ֖רְחוֹתֶ֣יךָ לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃ ​ ​  ׀אֲמִתֶּ֨ךָ בַהַדְרִ֘יכֵ֤נִילַמְּדֵ֗נִי כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעִ֑י *​ ​ אוֹתְךָ֥ קִ֝וִּ֗יתִי כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃​ ​   שִׁמְךָ֥ יְהוָ֑הלְמַֽעַן־־הֽוּא׃ רַב כִּ֣י וְֽסָלַחְתָּ֥ לַ֝עֲוֺנִ֗י​ ​ מִי־זֶ֣ה הָ֭אִישׁ יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑ה יִבְחָֽר׃ דֶ֣רֶךְי֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּ בְּ​ ​ נַ֭פְשׁוֹ בְּט֣וֹב תָּלִ֑ין וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ יִ֣ירַשׁ אָֽרֶץ׃​ ​ יְ֭הוָה לִירֵאָ֑יו  ס֣וֹדוֹ לְהוֹדִיעָֽם׃בְרִית֗וּ֝​ ​  חָנֵּ֑נִי־אֵלַ֥י וְפְּנֵהכִּֽי־יָחִ֖יד וְעָנִ֣י אָֽנִי׃ ​ ​ עֵינַ֣י תָּ֭מִיד אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֤י הֽוּא־יוֹצִ֖יא מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת רַגְלָֽי׃ ​ ​  לְבָבִ֣י הִרְחִ֑יבוּ  צָר֣וֹתמִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתַ֗י הוֹצִיאֵֽנִי׃ ​ ​ רְאֵ֣ה עָ֭נְיִי וַעֲמָלִ֑י ׃ חַטֹּאותָֽי לְכָל־שָׂ֗אוְ֝​ ​ רְאֵֽה־אוֹיְבַ֥י כִּי־רָ֑בּוּוְשִׂנְאַ֖ת חָמָ֣ס שְׂנֵאֽוּנִי׃ ​ ​ נַ֭פְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי  שָׁמְרָ֣האַל־אֵ֝ב֗וֹשׁ כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ׃ ​ ​ תֹּם־וָיֹ֥שֶׁר יִצְּר֑וּנִי קִוִּיתִֽיךָ׃ כִּ֝֗י​ ​ פְּדֵ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִ֝כֹּ֗ל צָֽרוֹתָיו׃ ​ ​  By David.To you, YHWH, ​I lift my soul, my God.I trust in you; do not let me be disappointed! ​Do not let my enemies rejoice over me!Yes, none who hope in you will be disappointed. ​Worthless people who act unfaithfully will be disappointed.Show me your ways, YHWH; ​teach me your paths!Guide me in your truth; ​teach me; because you are the God who saves me. ​I hope in you all day long. The troubles of my heart have expanded. ​Bring me out of my distresses!Look at my affliction and my hardship, ​and forgive all my sins!Look at my enemies, how they have multiplied ​and how they hate me with violent hatred!Guard my life and rescue me! ​Do not let me be disappointed, because I have taken refuge in you!May integrity and justice keep me safe, ​because I hope in you.God, redeem Israel ​from all their troubles! Because of your name, YHWH, ​forgive my guilt, because it is great!Who is the person who fears YHWH? ​He will instruct him in the way he should choose.He himself will stay in a good place, ​and his offspring will possess land.YHWH's personal counsel and his covenant ​are for those who fear him, for teaching them.Turn towards me and be merciful to me, ​because I am alone and afflicted.My eyes are always on YHWH, ​because he will bring my feet out of a net. Now if I have found favor in your sight, please show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. 33:13 33:19–20 34:5–10 Exod 33–34 (NRSVue, modified text in brackets) And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord,’ and I will be [merciful] to whom I will be [merciful] and will show [compassion] on whom I will show [compassion]. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one shall see me and live.” The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name, “The Lord.” The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God [compassionate and merciful], slow to anger, and abounding in [loyalty] and faithfulness, keeping [loyalty] for the thousandth generation, forgiving [guilt and rebellion] and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the [guilt] of the parents upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped. He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, my Lord, I pray, let my Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-​necked people, [forgive] our [guilt] and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” He said, “I hereby make a covenant....”  נָא֙ הוֹדִעֵ֤נִי בְּעֵינֶ֗יךָ חֵ֜ן מָצָ֨אתִי אִם־נָא֩ וְעַתָּ֡הבְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן לְמַ֥עַן וְאֵדָ֣עֲךָ֔ אֶת־דְּרָכֶ֔ךָ  עַל־פָּנֶ֔יךָ י֙טוּבִכָּל־ אַעֲבִ֤יר אֲנִ֨י וַיֹּ֗אמֶר חַנֹּתִי֙וְ לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְהוָ֖ה שֵׁ֛םבְ וְקָרָ֧אתִֽי ׃אֲרַחֵֽם אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר וְרִחַמְתִּ֖י אָחֹ֔ן אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר כִּ֛י פָּנָ֑יאֶת־ לִרְאֹ֣ת תוּכַ֖ל לֹ֥א וַיֹּ֕אמֶרוָחָֽי הָאָדָ֖ם לֹֽא־יִרְאַ֥נִי  וַיִּקְרָ֥א שָׁ֑ם עִמּ֖וֹ וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן יְהוָה֙ וַיֵּ֤רֶד עַל־פָּנָיו֮ יְהוָ֥ה׀ וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר ׃יְהוָֽה שֵׁ֖םבְ אֶ֥רֶךְ וְחַנּ֑וּן רַח֖וּם אֵ֥ל יְהוָ֔ה יְהוָ֣ה׀ וַיִּקְרָא֒ חֶ֙סֶד֙ נֹצֵ֥ר ׃וֶאֱמֶֽת רַב־חֶ֥סֶדוְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְנַקֵּה֙ וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וָפֶ֖שַׁע עָוֺ֛ן נֹשֵׂ֥א לָאֲלָפִ֔ים עַל־בָּנִים֙ אָב֗וֹת עֲוֺ֣ן פֹּקֵ֣ד׀ יְנַקֶּ֔ה לֹ֣א וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃ עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים בָנִ֔ים וְעַל־בְּנֵ֣י וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ אַ֖רְצָה וַיִּקֹּ֥ד מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיְמַהֵ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֔י בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ חֵ֤ן מָצָ֨אתִי אִם־נָא֩ וַיֹּ֡אמֶר עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹ֙רֶף֙ כִּ֤י בְּקִרְבֵּ֑נוּ אֲדֹנָ֖י יֵֽלֶךְ־נָ֥א נוּלְחַטָּאתֵ֖וּ לַעֲוֺנֵ֥נוּ וְסָלַחְתָּ֛ ה֔וּאבְּרִית֒ כֹּרֵ֣ת אָנֹכִי֮ הִנֵּ֣ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ׃ Remember your compassion, YHWH, ​and [remember] your acts of loyalty, because they have been around forever.Do not remember my youthful sins or my rebellious acts! ​Remember me according to your loyalty,  ​because of your goodness, YHWH!YHWH is good and just; ​therefore, he instructs sinners in the way.He guides afflicted people in justice ​and teaches afflicted people his way.All of YHWH's paths are loyalty and faithfulness ​for those who keep his covenant and his demands. יְ֭הוָה  רַחֲמֶ֣יךָזְכֹר־׃מֵעוֹלָ֣ם הֵֽמָּה כִּ֖י חֲסָדֶ֑יךָוַ​ ​  אַל־תִּ֫זְכֹּ֥רפְשָׁעַ֗י נְעוּרַ֨י ׀ וּחַטֹּ֤אות זְכָר־לִי־אַ֑תָּה חַסְדְּךָ֥כְּ​ ​  יְהוָֽה׃ טוּבְךָ֣לְמַ֖עַן ​ ​ טוֹב־וְיָשָׁ֥ר יְהוָ֑ה ׃ דָּֽרֶךְיוֹרֶ֖ה חַטָּאִ֣ים בַּ עַל־כֵּ֤ן​ ​  עֲ֭נָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט יַדְרֵ֣ךְ׃דַּרְכּֽוֹוִֽילַמֵּ֖ד עֲנָוִ֣ים ​ ​  חֶ֣סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֑תכָּל־אָרְח֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה וֹ וְעֵדֹתָֽיו׃בְ֝רִית֗לְנֹצְרֵ֥י ​ ​ 

Feature

Psalm 25 has numerous linguistic and thematic correspondences to Exodus 32–34. These chapters describe the story of the golden calf, the renewal of the Sinai covenant, and the revelation of YHWH's character as a god who is "abounding in loyalty and faithfulness, forgiving guilt, rebellion, and sin" (Exod 34:6).

The two most prominent connections between Psalm 25 and Exodus 32–34 are as follows: 1. The request, "Show me your ways" (Ps 25:4; Exod 33:13). These are the only two verses in the Bible in which this precise request occurs (הוֹדִיעֵנִי + דְּרָכֶיךָ) (cf. Ps 103:7). The fact that דרך is the most repeated root in Psalm 25 (with the exception of the divine name) further strengthens the connection. 2. The request "would you forgive my/our guilt" (Ps 25:11; Exod 34:9). These are the only two places in the Bible where the expression וְסָלַחתָּ לַעֲוֹן occurs (weqatal second person singular). The centrality of Psalm 25:11 (see the Poetic Feature Forgiveness at the Center) serves to highlight the connection.

In addition to these prominent connections, a number of other key terms and roots occur in both passages, e.g., "faithfulness," "loyalty," "compassion," "mercy," "goodness," "name," "covenant," "face," "guilt," "sin," and "rebellion."

Effect

In v. 6, the psalmist appeals to YHWH's compassion and acts of loyalty, "because they have been around forever" (v. 6b). Indeed, the psalmist seems to be thinking specifically of the story of Exodus 32–34, when YHWH forgave his people's sin on the basis of his compassion and loyalty and renewed his covenant with them. The psalmist (David, see v. 1) stands in the place of Moses and intercedes on behalf of the people (see v. 22), requesting YHWH's forgiveness and guidance. The people – and, indeed, the psalmist himself – have sinned (vv. 7, 18) and, therefore, they have come into trouble (vv. 17, 22). Their only hope for rescue is forgiveness (see the Poetic Feature Forgiveness at the Center), and the only basis for forgiveness is YHWH's "name" (v. 11a), that is, his character. Thankfully, YHWH's character, which he revealed to Moses at Sinai, has not changed. Therefore, YHWH can forgive his people now, just as he forgave them then. His loyalty and compassion are not relics of the past; they are the only hope for the future.

Repeated Roots

The repeated roots table is intended to identify the roots which are repeated in the psalm.

  Repeated Roots Diagram Legend

Repeated Roots legend
Divine name The divine name is indicated by bold purple text.
Roots bounding a section Roots bounding a section, appearing in the first and last verse of a section, are indicated by bold red text.
Roots occurring primarily in the first section are indicated in a yellow box.
Roots occurring primarily in the third section are indicated in a blue box.
Roots connected across sections are indicated by a vertical gray line connecting the roots.
Section boundaries are indicated by a horizontal black line across the chart.
Repeated Roots (Ps 25)Verseיְהוָהנֶפֶשׁנשׂאאֱלֹהִיםבושׁאיבכללקוהדרךידעארחלמדאמןזכרחסדחטאטֹובירהענהנצרברהרבביראיצאצררראה1יְהוָהנַפְשִׁיאֶשָּֽׂא2אֵבֹושָׁהאֹיְבַי3יֵבֹשׁוּ יֵבֹשׁוּ,כָּלקֹוֶיךָ4יְהוָהדְּרָכֶיךָהֹודִיעֵנִיאֹרְחֹותֶיךָלַמְּדֵֽנִי5אֱלֹהֵיכָּלקִוִּיתִיהַדְרִיכֵנִילַמְּדֵנִיאֲמִתֶּךָ6יְהוָהזְכֹרחֲסָדֶיךָ7יְהוָֽהזְכָר תִּזְכֹּר,חַסְדְּךָחַטֹּאות8יְהוָהדָּֽרֶךְחַטָּאִיםטֹוביֹורֶה9דַּרְכֹּֽו יַדְרֵךְ,ילַמֵּדעֲנָוִים עֲנָוִים,10יְהוָהכָּלאָרְחֹותאֱמֶתחֶסֶדנֹצְרֵיבְרִיתֹו11יְהוָהרַב12יְהוָהדֶרֶךְיֹורֶנּוּיְרֵא13נַפְשֹׁוטֹוב14יְהוָההֹודִיעָֽםבְרִיתֹוירֵאָיו15יְהוָהיֹוצִיא1617הֹוצִיאֵֽנִיצָרֹות18שָׂאכָלחַטֹּאותָֽיעָנְיִירְאֵה19אֹויְבַירָבּוּרְאֵֽה20נַפְשִׁיאֵבֹושׁ21קִוִּיתִֽיךָיִצְּרוּנִי22אֱלֹהִיםכֹּלצָֽרֹותָיואֱֽלֹהַי

Mini-Story

life God hope teach Remember loyalty sin affliction shame YHWH , my I me according to your and not according to my in you; let me not come to . . Rescue my from and me your ways .

Notes

  • The divine name occurs 10 times, possibly 11 (see textual note on v. 21), and only in the first 15 verses.
  • Several repeated roots (נֶפֶשׁ ,נשׂא ,אֱלֹהִים ,בושׁ ,איב ,כלל ,קוה) cluster in the first and last five verses of the psalm, forming an inclusio.
  • Besides the divine name, the most repeated root in the psalm is דרך (six times: vv. 4, 5, 8, 9a, 9b, 12).
  • Other repeated roots include:
    • four-five times
      • כל (vv. 3, 5, 10, 18, 22)
      • בושׁ (vv. 2, 3a, 3b, 20)
    • three times
      • נפשׁ (vv. 1, 13, 20)
      • אלהים (vv. 1, 5, 22)
      • קוה (vv. 3, 5, 21)
      • למד (vv. 4, 5, 9)
      • זכר (vv. 6, 7a, 7b)
      • חסד (vv. 6, 7, 10)
      • חטא (vv. 7, 8, 18)
      • ענה (vv. 9a, 9b, 18)
    • two times
      • נשׂא (vv. 1, 18)
      • איב (vv. 2, 19)
      • ידע (vv. 4, 14)
      • ארח (vv. 4, 10)
      • אמת (vv. 5, 10)
      • טוב (vv. 8, 13)
      • ירה (vv. 8, 12)
      • נצר (vv. 10, 21)
      • ברית (vv. 10, 14)
      • רבב (vv. 11, 19)
      • ירא (vv. 12, 14)
      • יצא (vv. 15, 17)
      • צרר (vv. 17, 22)
      • ראה (vv. 18, 19)



Bibliography

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cf. Freedman 1992, 127: "If these phenomena had turned up in only one psalm, we might wonder about accidental omissions and possible inadvertencies, but when there are two psalms with so many identical points in common, it is clear that a deliberate program of alteration and adaptation has taken place in both cases."
  2. ↑ Note also that the divine name occurs in v. 15a. If it occurs also in v 21 (cf. LXX; see textual note), then this would significantly enhance the chiastic connection between these two verses.
  3. ↑ See Sikes and Longacre 2025, §3; cf. First 2014; see The Text and Meaning of Psalm 34:18.
  4. ↑ Cf. First 2014, 480–481.
  5. ↑ See further The Missing Qof in Psalm 25:18: Ayin-Pe or Pe-Ayin?.
  6. ↑ Cf. Weber 2016, §25. See also van der Lugt 2006, 270, who notes that "there is some unanimity among scholars who have studied the macrostructure of this psalm in distinguishing three main sections: vv. 1–7, 8–14/15, 15/16–21."
  7. ↑ Cf. Hossfeld 1993, 161; Doyle 2001, 200, 204.
  8. ↑ For a survey of other structural proposals, see van der Lugt 2006, §25. Van der Lugt's own analysis divides the text into three main parts: vv. 1–11; vv. 12–21; v. 22. In his view, the traditional tripartite analysis does not give due weight to the correspondences between vv. 6–7 and vv. 10–11.
  9. ↑ See Sikes 2025; Albrecht 2025.
  10. ↑ As interpreted by de Hoop and Sanders 2022.
  11. ↑ Cf. Benun 2006, §3.
  12. ↑ See Gottwald 1954, 23-32; cf. Soll 2001, I.58-59; Watson 2001, 197-199.
  13. ↑ Cf. Hossfeld 1993, 161; Doyle 2001, 200, 204; van der Lugt 2006, 272.
  14. ↑ On the order pe-ayin, see The Missing Qof in Psalm 25:18.
  15. ↑ Calvin.