Psalm 25–27

A Prayer for God to Guide

Of David.

25Lord, I give myself to you;

²my God, I trust you.

Do not let me be disgraced;

do not let my enemies laugh at me.

³No one who trusts you will be disgraced,

but those who sin without excuse will be disgraced.

⁴Lord, tell me your ways.

Show me how to live.

⁵Guide me in your truth,

and teach me, my God, my Savior.

I trust you all day long.

⁶Lord, remember your mercy and love

that you have shown since long ago.

⁷Do not remember the sins

and wrong things I did when I was young.

But remember to love me always

because you are good, Lord.

⁸The Lord is good and right;

he points sinners to the right way.

⁹He shows those who are humble how to do right,

and he teaches them his ways.

¹⁰All the Lord’s ways are loving and true

for those who follow the demands of his agreement.

¹¹For the sake of your name, Lord,

forgive my many sins.

¹²Are there those who respect the Lord?

He will point them to the best way.

¹³They will enjoy a good life,

and their children will inherit the land.

¹⁴The Lord tells his secrets to those who respect him;

he tells them about his agreement.

¹⁵My eyes are always looking to the Lord for help.

He will keep me from any traps.

¹⁶Turn to me and have mercy on me,

because I am lonely and hurting.

¹⁷My troubles have grown larger;

free me from my problems.

¹⁸Look at my suffering and troubles,

and take away all my sins.

¹⁹Look at how many enemies I have!

See how much they hate me!

²⁰Protect me and save me.

I trust you, so do not let me be disgraced.

²¹My hope is in you,

so may goodness and honesty guard me.

²²God, save Israel from all their troubles!

The Prayer of an Innocent Believer

Of David.

26Lord, defend me because I have lived an innocent life.

I have trusted the Lord and never doubted.

²Lord, try me and test me;

look closely into my heart and mind.

³I see your love,

and I live by your truth.

⁴I do not spend time with liars,

nor do I make friends with those who hide their sin.

⁵I hate the company of evil people,

and I won’t sit with the wicked.

⁶I wash my hands to show I am innocent,

and I come to your altar, Lord.

⁷I raise my voice in praise

and tell of all the miracles you have done.

⁸Lord, I love the Temple where you live,

where your glory is.

⁹Do not kill me with those sinners

or take my life with those murderers.

¹⁰Evil is in their hands,

and they do wrong for money.

¹¹But I have lived an innocent life,

so save me and have mercy on me.

¹²I stand in a safe place.

Lord, I praise you in the great meeting.

A Song of Trust in God

Of David.

27The Lord is my light and the one who saves me.

So why should I fear anyone?

The Lord protects my life.

So why should I be afraid?

²Evil people may try to destroy my body.

My enemies and those who hate me attack me,

but they are overwhelmed and defeated.

³If an army surrounds me,

I will not be afraid.

If war breaks out,

I will trust the Lord.

⁴I ask only one thing from the Lord.

This is what I want:

Let me live in the Lord’s house

all my life.

Let me see the Lord’s beauty

and look with my own eyes at his Temple.

⁵During danger he will keep me safe in his shelter.

He will hide me in his Holy Tent,

or he will keep me safe on a high mountain.

⁶My head is higher than my enemies around me.

I will offer joyful sacrifices in his Holy Tent.

I will sing and praise the Lord.

⁷Lord, hear me when I call;

have mercy and answer me.

⁸My heart said of you, “Go, worship him.”

So I come to worship you, Lord.

⁹Do not turn away from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have helped me.

Do not push me away or leave me alone,

God, my Savior.

¹⁰If my father and mother leave me,

the Lord will take me in.

¹¹Lord, teach me your ways,

and guide me to do what is right

because I have enemies.

¹²Do not hand me over to my enemies,

because they tell lies about me

and say they will hurt me.

¹³I truly believe

I will live to see the Lord’s goodness.

¹⁴Wait for the Lord’s help.

Be strong and brave,

and wait for the Lord’s help.