Psalm 25
The 25th Psalm is part of the book of Psalms. In it a poor YHWH asks for salvation, forgiveness and guidance. The psalmist is a learned and a teaching supplicant, which gives his prayer in the form of a akrostichischen psalm. Because of the sapiential motifs as well as the next in the prayer expressed arms piety Psalm 25 emerged as post-exilic, ie after 500 BC, to be classified.
Translation
More translation variants - even in other languages - as well as the Hebrew text can be found at Ps 25.1 to 22 ELB ( here set to the Revised Standard Version translation ).
Building / structure
Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Psalm divided into 5 sections: Prayer (1-7), meditation (8-10), prayer (11) Meditation ( 12-15), prayer ( 16-22). Prayer and meditation alternate.
Frank -Lothar Hossfeld Psalm 25 is divided into the following parts:
- Verse 1: Headline
- Verse 1f: Trust and Please
- Verse 3: sentence
- Verse 4-7: Bitten
- Verse 8-10: Doctrine of God
- Verse 11: Central Please
- Verse 12-14: Teaching the people
- Verse 15: vote of confidence
- Verses 16-21: Bitten
- Verse 22: Pray for Israel
Linguistic and substantive observations
Acrostic
Psalm 25 is one of the group of akrostichischen Psalms, in which follow the first letters of the 22 verses of the text of the series of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (Psalm chapter 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 and 145 ). It is noticeable that the Vss. 1a and 22 do not fit in this alphabetical scheme. Both are included as secondary to judge. The Alefbeth serves as a reminder while reciting, on the other hand the reader the doctrinal character should already be displayed on the outside.
Relationship with Psalm 34
The two Psalms 25 and 34 have similarities that suggest a relationship:
- Single-line acrostic
- Lack of Vav- verse ( 25.5, 34.6 )
- Additional Pe - verse as Salvation Pray for Israel ( 25:22; 34.23 )
- Identical Versanfänge (Mem - line 25,12, 34, 13 - Ayin - line 25,15, 34,16 - Pe - lines 25,16, 34,17 )
- Centrality of the Lamed - line ( 25.11; 34.12 )
The petitions of the psalm
Not less than 21 addressed to YHWH petitions are included in the 22 verses of Psalm 25, of which 18 requests are expressed by the stylistic device of parallelism.
The central petition of the Psalms is not executed in parallel verse 11, which is framed by teaching verses (V 8-10, Doctrine of God, and 12-14, teaching the people ).
Inventory:
- 2b do not let me fail
- 2c let my enemies not triumph ( parallelism )
- 4a show me, Lord, thy ways,
- 4b teach me your paths! ( Parallelism )
- 5a guide me in your truth
- 5b teach me ( parallelism )
- 6a think of your mercy, Lord
- 6b ( thinking ) to the deeds of your grace ( parallelism )
- 7a thinking not to sins of my youth and my outrage!
- 7b in your steadfast love remember me ( parallelism )
- 20a get my life
- 20b and save me ( parallelism )
- 20c do not let me fail!
- 22 O God, deliver Israel from all his troubles!
Is framed, the Psalm of the request: "Please do not let me fail " (2b; 20c).
Requests for leadership of YHWH to the right of life (v. 4 5a 8b 9b 10a 12b.. .. ) And to rescue from trouble and distress (v. 17b; 18a, . Sa 9 15b 19 20a) are important motives Psalm. Of central importance to the psalm, however, is the repeated request for forgiveness of the debt ( 7a.11.18b ).
The final request for redemption of Israel is to be regarded as secondary.
Genus
The psalm is unique to any genus. In the Psalm prevail elements of lament: Action Please, expression of trust. Motives of the hymn can be found in V. 8-10. The author is probably one of the often persecuted the post-exilic period, who sought for themselves and other personal support and instruction in the study of the Scriptures. He has taken his experience in a book written in the style antholischen poem, by type of post-exilic wisdom school.
Interpretation
See F. L. Hossfeld
A ) Title V 25.1 A
The heading " From David " consists only of the (secondary) indication of the author, which classifies the psalm in the group of Psalms 25-28.
B ) Please trust and V 25.1 b-2
The term "the soul to YHWH raise " (1b) Psalm language and is also found in Ps 86.4 and Ps 143.8. The petitioner acknowledges in his prayer / song to " his" God. There is a close relationship of trust ( mention the name of God; " my God " ) between God and prayerful. The petitioner trusts (2a ), that God is by his side. The verses 1b and 2a are associated with each other and lead to 2b and c above, where the vote of confidence is associated with a twofold request: " Let me not fail / be put to shame " (also Ps 25,20; cf. Ps 31,2.18; Ps 71.1 ) and "let not my enemies triumph ". The unspecified enemies of the petitioner should not triumph, so he asks YHWH to justify his faith publicly.
C ) Theorem 25.3 V
Lose to the previous verses, the prayer in a sapiential theorem on the YHWH hopeful man ( poor ) the faithless antithetical. Who is faithless and the covenant with YHWH breaks ( cf. Hos 6:7; Jer 3:20; 31:31-34 ) will fail or be ashamed. To all who put their hope in YHWH and trust Him will live.
D) requests from 25.4 to 7 V
E) doctrine of God from 25.8 to 10 V
F ) Central Please V 25.11
G) teaching on the human V 25.12-14
H) vote of confidence V 25.15
I) requests from 25.16 to 21 V
J) Pray for Israel V 25.22
Psalm 25 in the liturgy
The Psalm, which is included in the Protestant hymnal under No. 713, found in the Christian liturgy, especially during Lent, but also on special days of remembrance liturgical use. In the early Church the Introit for the two Sundays " oculi " (Ps 25,15 ) and " Reminiscere " (Psalm 25:6) was taken from the Psalms. On Sunday " Reminiscere " ( " Remember, Lord, your mercy " ), the 2nd Sunday of Lent during Lent, is prayed after the lectionary Psalm 25:1-11. The 3rd Sunday of Lent " oculi " ( Oculi mei semper ad Dominum, " My eyes are always on the Lord " ) Ps 25.15 as its theme.