Psalm 25 Speech Act

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Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

Summary Visual

Speaker Verses Macro Speech Acts Addressee
David v. 1 By David. To you, YHWH, I lift my soul, my God.

REQUEST
(vv. 1–7)

Guide me in your way,
and forgive my sins!
For
I hope in you.
 YHWH
v. 2 I trust in you; do not let me be disappointed! Do not let my enemies rejoice over me!
v. 3 Yes, none who hope in you will be disappointed. Worthless people who act unfaithfully will be disappointed.
v. 4 Show me your ways, YHWH; teach me your paths!
v. 5 Guide me in your truth; teach me; because you are the God who saves me. I hope in you all day long.
v. 6 Remember your compassion, YHWH, and [remember] your acts of loyalty, because they have been around forever.
v. 7 Do not remember my youthful sins or my rebellious acts! Remember me according to your loyalty, because of your goodness, YHWH!
v. 8 YHWH is good and just; therefore, he instructs sinners in the way.

DESCRIPTION
(vv. 8–10)

YHWH is good and just,
loyal and faithful.
 Those who hope in YHWH
v. 9 He guides afflicted people in justice and teaches afflicted people his way.
v. 10 All of YHWH's paths are loyalty and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his demands.
v. 11 Because of your name, YHWH, forgive my guilt, because it is great!

REQUEST
(v. 11)

Because of your name, YHWH,
would you forgive my guilt!
 YHWH
v. 12 Who is the person who fears YHWH? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

DESCRIPTION
(vv. 12–14)

YHWH guides
the one who fears him.
 Those who hope in YHWH
v. 13 He himself will stay in a good place, and his offspring will possess land.
v. 14 YHWH's personal counsel and his covenant are for those who fear him, for teaching them.
v. 16* Turn towards me and be merciful to me, because I am alone and afflicted.

REQUEST
(vv. 15–22)

Rescue me from my distress!
For
I hope in you.
 YHWH
v. 15* My eyes are always on YHWH, because he will bring my feet out of a net.
v. 17 The troubles of my heart have expanded. Bring me out of my distresses!
v. 18 Look at my affliction and my hardship, and forgive all my sins!
v. 19 Look at my enemies, how they have multiplied and how they hate me with violent hatred!
v. 20 Guard my life and rescue me! Do not let me be disappointed, because I have taken refuge in you!
v. 21 May integrity and justice keep me safe, because I hope in you.
v. 22 God, redeem Israel from all their troubles!

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse Hebrew CBC Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line Hebrew text English translation Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory

Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type		 More specific illocution type with paraphrased context Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse

These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings		 What the speaker intends for the address to think What the speaker intends for the address to feel What the speaker intends for the address to do



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.
Verse Text (Hebrew) Text (CBC) Sentence type Illocution (general) Illocution with context Macro speech act Macro speech act Intended perlocution (Think) Intended perlocution (Feel) Intended perlocution (Do) Speech Act Notes
1 לְדָוִ֡ד By David. Fragment Assertive Giving information about the psalm's author
אֵלֶ֥יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה נַפְשִׁ֥י אֶשָּֽׂא׃ אֱֽלֹהַ֗י To you, YHWH, I lift my soul, my God. Declarative Expressive Expressing dependence on YHWH, his God Requesting to be rescued from enemies Request The listener (and the psalmist himself) will gain confidence in YHWH YHWH will rescue the psalmist from his enemies The first two utterances of the psalm are expressives. Although the sentences are formally declarative, their function is not to state facts about the world, but to express confidence in and reliance on YHWH.
2 בְּךָ֣ בָ֭טַחְתִּי I trust in you; Declarative Expressive Expressing confidence ("trust") in YHWH alone
אַל־אֵב֑וֹשָׁה do not let me be disappointed! Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH keep him from coming to shame
אַל־יַֽעַלְצ֖וּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃ Do not let my enemies rejoice over me! Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH keep his enemies from rejoicing over him
3 גַּ֣ם כָּל־קֹ֭וֶיךָ לֹ֣א יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ Yes, none who hope in you will be disappointed. Declarative Assertive Declaring that none who hope in YHWH will come to shame
יֵ֝בֹ֗שׁוּ הַבּוֹגְדִ֥ים רֵיקָֽם׃ Worthless people who act unfaithfully will be disappointed. Declarative Assertive Declaring that worthless people who act unfaithfully will come to shame
4 דְּרָכֶ֣יךָ יְ֭הוָה הוֹדִיעֵ֑נִי Show me your ways, YHWH; Imperative Directive Requesting to know YHWH's ways Requesting guidance from YHWH YHWH will guide the psalmist in his ways
אֹ֖רְחוֹתֶ֣יךָ לַמְּדֵֽנִי׃ teach me your paths! Imperative Directive Requesting to be taught to walk in YHWH's paths
5 הַדְרִ֘יכֵ֤נִי בַאֲמִתֶּ֨ךָ ׀ Guide me in your truth; Imperative Directive Requesting to be guided in YHWH's truth
*לַמְּדֵ֗נִי teach me; Imperative Directive Requesting to be taught by YHWH
כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעִ֑י because you are the God who saves me. Declarative Assertive Stating the grounds for his request: YHWH's identity as the God who protects him
אוֹתְךָ֥ קִ֝וִּ֗יתִי כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ I hope in you all day long. Declarative Assertive Stating the grounds for his request: his exclusive and constant hope in YHWH
6 זְכֹר־רַחֲמֶ֣יךָ יְ֭הוָה Remember your compassion, YHWH, Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH remember his compassion and acts of loyalty Requesting forgiveness from YHWH YHWH will remember his compassion and his acts of loyalty, which have been around forever YHWH will feel compassion towards the psalmist YHWH will forgive the psalmist
וַחֲסָדֶ֑יךָ and [remember] your acts of loyalty,
כִּ֖י מֵעוֹלָ֣ם הֵֽמָּה׃ because they have been around forever.
7 חַטֹּ֤אות נְעוּרַ֨י ׀ וּפְשָׁעַ֗י אַל־תִּ֫זְכֹּ֥ר Do not remember my youthful sins or my rebellious acts! Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH not remember him according to his youthful sins or rebellious acts
כְּחַסְדְּךָ֥ זְכָר־לִי־אַ֑תָּה לְמַ֖עַן טוּבְךָ֣ יְהוָֽה׃ Remember me according to your loyalty, because of your goodness, YHWH! Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH remember him according to his loyalty
8 טוֹב־וְיָשָׁ֥ר יְהוָ֑ה YHWH is good and just; Declarative Assertive Descibing YHWH as good and just Describing YHWH's character Description The listener will understand something about YHWH's character and how he deals with sinners The listener (and the psalmist himself) will be confident in YHWH as they base their requests on his character The listener will seek YHWH's forgiveness and guidance
עַל־כֵּ֤ן יוֹרֶ֖ה חַטָּאִ֣ים בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ therefore, he instructs sinners in the way. Declarative Assertive Explaining how YHWH's character (v. 8a) affects how he deals with sinners
9 יַדְרֵ֣ךְ עֲ֭נָוִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט He guides afflicted people in justice Declarative Assertive Explaining how YHWH deals with afflicted people, on the basis of his character
וִֽילַמֵּ֖ד עֲנָוִ֣ים דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃ and teaches afflicted people his way. Declarative Assertive Explaining how YHWH deals with afflicted people, on the basis of his character
10 כָּל־אָרְח֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה חֶ֣סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֑ת לְנֹצְרֵ֥י בְ֝רִית֗וֹ וְעֵדֹתָֽיו׃ All of YHWH's paths are loyalty and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his demands. Declarative Assertive Describing YHWH's paths, his characteristic dealings with those who keep his covenant
11 לְמַֽעַן־שִׁמְךָ֥ יְהוָ֑ה וְֽסָלַחְתָּ֥ לַ֝עֲוֺנִ֗י Because of your name, YHWH, forgive my guilt, Imperative Directive Requesting forgiveness from great guilt on the basis of YHWH's great name (=character) Requesting forgiveness Request YHWH will be mindful of his own character (his "name") YHWH will act in a way that is consistent with his character ("compassionate, merciful, slow to anger..."; see Exod 34:6–7) and forgive the psalmist's guilt
כִּ֣י רַב־הֽוּא׃ because it is great!
12 מִי־זֶ֣ה הָ֭אִישׁ יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑ה Who is the person who fears YHWH? Interrogative Directive Calling the person who fears YHWH to listen; getting his attention Describing how YHWH guides and blesses the person who fears him Description The listener will see how YHWH guides and blesses those who fear him The listener will fear YHWH by keeping his covenant and his stipulations The question in v. 12 has a double function: (1) to announce the topic of the following mini-discourse (vv. 12–14) and (2) to get the listener's attention (cf. Ps 34:13). "Who is the person who fears YHWH?" = "Listen up, you who fear YHWH!"
י֝וֹרֶ֗נּוּ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ יִבְחָֽר׃ He will instruct him in the way he should choose. Declarative Assertive Describing how YHWH guides the person who fears him
13 נַ֭פְשׁוֹ בְּט֣וֹב תָּלִ֑ין He himself will stay in a good place, Declarative Assertive Describing the good life of the person who fears YHWH
וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ יִ֣ירַשׁ אָֽרֶץ׃ and his offspring will possess land. Declarative Assertive Describing the multi-generational blessings for the person who fears YHWH
14 ס֣וֹד יְ֭הוָה לִירֵאָ֑יו YHWH's personal counsel and his covenant are for those who fear him, Declarative Assertive Describing how YHWH counsels and teaches those who fear him
וּ֝בְרִית֗וֹ לְהוֹדִיעָֽם׃ for teaching them.
16* פְּנֵה־אֵלַ֥י Turn towards me Imperative Directive Requesting YHWH's attention Requesting rescue from distress Request YHWH will see (give attention to) the psalmist's desparate situation YHWH will be favorably disposed (חנן, see SDBH) towards the psalmist YHWH will rescue the psalmist from his distress
וְחָנֵּ֑נִי and be merciful to me, Imperative Directive Requesting YHWH's mercy
כִּֽי־יָחִ֖יד וְעָנִ֣י אָֽנִי׃ because I am alone and afflicted. Declarative Assertive Explaining his need for YHWH to turn and be merciful to him
15* עֵינַ֣י תָּ֭מִיד אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה My eyes are always on YHWH, Declarative Assertive Describing his constant hope in YHWH as the one who will rescue him
כִּ֤י הֽוּא־יוֹצִ֖יא מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת רַגְלָֽי׃ because he will bring my feet out of a net.
17 צָר֣וֹת לְבָבִ֣י הִרְחִ֑יבוּ The troubles of my heart have expanded. Declarative Assertive Describing how the troubles of his heart have expanded
מִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתַ֗י הוֹצִיאֵֽנִי׃ Bring me out of my distresses! Imperative Directive Requesting freedom and relief from his distress
18 רְאֵ֣ה עָ֭נְיִי וַעֲמָלִ֑י Look at my affliction and my hardship, Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH take notice of his affliction and hardship
וְ֝שָׂ֗א לְכָל־חַטֹּאותָֽי׃ and forgive all my sins! Imperative Directive Requesting forgiveness for his sins
19 רְאֵֽה־אוֹיְבַ֥י כִּי־רָ֑בּוּ וְשִׂנְאַ֖ת חָמָ֣ס שְׂנֵאֽוּנִי׃ Look at my enemies, how they have multiplied and how they hate me with violent hatred! Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH notice the urgent threat posed by his enemies, their vast quantity ("many") and dangerous quality ("violent hatred")
20 שָׁמְרָ֣ה נַ֭פְשִׁי Guard my life Imperative Directive Requesting protection
וְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי and rescue me! Imperative Directive Requesting rescue
אַל־אֵ֝ב֗וֹשׁ Do not let me be disappointed, Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH keep him from coming to shame
כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ׃ because I have taken refuge in you!
21 תֹּם־וָיֹ֥שֶׁר יִצְּר֑וּנִי May integrity and justice keep me safe, Imperative Directive Requesting that YHWH teach him to walk in integrity and justice so that he is kept safe
כִּ֝֗י קִוִּיתִֽיךָ׃ because I hope in you.
22 פְּדֵ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִ֝כֹּ֗ל צָֽרוֹתָיו׃ God, redeem Israel from all their troubles! Imperative Directive Requesting redemption for Israel Requesting redemption for Israel YHWH will redeem Israel from all their troubles