Verse 1
"Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul."
David lifts his whole soul to the LORD — a prayer of dependence and faith, placing his very being in His hands.
Verse 12
"What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose."
Whoever fears the LORD is guided: He teaches him to choose rightly and walk the way fitting for his soul and his task.
Verse 13
"His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth."
His soul shall rest in good and peace; the one who walks the LORD's way finds inner calm, and his seed a blessed continuance in the land.
Verse 14
"The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant."
"The secret of the LORD" — the inner nearness He reveals to those who fear Him, making known His covenant, a deep bond given only to the one who truly seeks Him.
Verse 15
"Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net."
David's eyes are ever toward the LORD, for only He can free his feet from the "net" — the snare the enemy's schemes spread to bring him down.
Verse 16
"Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted."
He asks the LORD to turn and be gracious; "desolate and afflicted," he feels alone and in need, and seeks mercy.
Verse 17
"The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses."
"The troubles of my heart are enlarged" — the inner troubles have grown and pressed in; he asks to be brought out of distress, within and without.
Verse 18
"Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins."
He asks the LORD to look on his affliction and toil, and to bear and pardon all his sins.
Verse 19
"Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred."
He asks the LORD to see his many enemies; "cruel hatred" is no ordinary hatred, but a violent, unjust enmity.
Verse 20
"O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee."
He asks the LORD to keep and deliver his soul, that he not be shamed in his trust — for he takes refuge in Him alone, the support that never fails.
Verse 21
"Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee."
"Integrity and uprightness" — may these preserve him; waiting on the LORD, he stays faithful to a clean and upright path even in hardship.
Verse 22
"Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles."
The psalm closes with a prayer for all Israel: that God redeem the whole people from all their troubles — not the individual alone, but the nation lifting its eyes to redemption.
So Psalm 25 rises from the personal cry to the prayer of all — from one afflicted man to a whole people seeking redemption, the Psalms' movement from distress to hope.