Psalm 25

A Prayer for Guidance and Protection^p

25 To you, O Lord, I offer my prayer;

²in you, my God, I trust.

Save me from the shame of defeat;

don’t let my enemies gloat over me!

³Defeat does not come to those who trust in you,

but to those who are quick to rebel against you.

⁴Teach me your ways, O Lord;

make them known to me.

⁵Teach me to live according to your truth,

for you are my God, who saves me.

I always trust in you.

⁶Remember, O Lord, your kindness and constant love

which you have shown from long ago.

⁷Forgive the sins and errors of my youth.

In your constant love and goodness, remember me, Lord!

⁸Because the Lord is righteous and good,

he teaches sinners the path they should follow.

⁹He leads the humble in the right way

and teaches them his will.

¹⁰With faithfulness and love he leads

all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

¹¹Keep your promise, Lord, and forgive my sins,

for they are many.

¹²Those who have reverence for the Lord

will learn from him the path they should follow.

¹³They will always be prosperous,

and their children will possess the land.

¹⁴The Lord is the friend of those who obey him

and he affirms his covenant with them.

¹⁵I look to the Lord for help at all times,

and he rescues me from danger.

¹⁶Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me,

because I am lonely and weak.

¹⁷Relieve me of my worries

and save me from all my troubles.

¹⁸Consider my distress and suffering

and forgive all my sins.

¹⁹See how many enemies I have;

see how much they hate me.

²⁰Protect me and save me;

keep me from defeat.

I come to you for safety.

²¹May my goodness and honesty preserve me,

because I trust in you.

²²From all their troubles, O God,

save your people Israel!