תהלים 25:1

Hebrew Modern Translation

לדוד אליך יהוה נפשי אשא׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Aleppo Codex
אליך יהוה נפשי אשא

Biblia Hebrica Stuttgartensia (1967/77)
לְדָוִ֡ד אֵלֶ֥יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה נַפְשִׁ֥י אֶשָּֽׂא ׃

Westminster Leningrad Codex
לְדָוִד אֵלֶיךָ יְהוָה נַפְשִׁי אֶשָּֽׂא ׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am cir, 3463, bc cir, 541

do I: Psalms 24:4, Psalms 86:4, Psalms 143:8, 1 Samuel 1:15, Lamentations 3:41

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 24:15 - setteth his heart upon it 1 Samuel 1:13 - spake Job 22:26 - lift up Hosea 4:8 - set their heart on their iniquity

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Either "in prayer", as the Chaldee paraphrase adds s; and denotes sincere, affectionate, hearty prayer to God, a drawing nigh to him with a true heart: for unless the heart is lifted up, the lifting up of the eyes or hands in prayer is of no avail; see Lamentations 3:41; or by way of offering to the Lord, as some Jewish writers t interpret it; David not only presented his body in public worship, but his soul also as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which was his reasonable service; or else as a "depositum", which he committed into the hands of God, to be under his care and protection; and then the sense is the same with Psalms 31:5 u; the phrase is sometimes used to express earnest and vehement desire after anything; Psalms 31:5- :; and may here intend the very great desire of the psalmist after communion with God; which is elsewhere by him expressed by panting after him, and by thirsting for him in a dry and thirsty land, Psalms 42:1; the desires of his soul were not to vain things, the vanities and idols of the Gentiles, but to God only, and to the remembrance of his name.

s So Kimchi & Ben Melech. t R. Moseh in Aben Ezra in loc. u Midrash Tillim.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul - In meditation; in gratitude; in praise. The idea is, that the thoughts are lifted up from earth and earthly subjects to God. This is the beginning of the meditation; this gives character, perhaps, to the psalm. The state of mind is that of one who turns cheerfully away from earthly themes, and opens his mind to more lofty and hallowed influences. The mind begins with God; and, beginning with this, the current of thought is allowed to flow on, gathering up such ideas as would come in under this general purpose. Opening the mind to this influence, thoughts would flow in upon the soul embracing a wide range, and perhaps not very closely connected among themselves, but all of which would be fitted to raise the heart to God in meditation, thankfulness, and praise.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

PSALM XXV

The psalmist, in great distress, calls upon God frequently, 1-5;

prays for pardon with the strong confidence of being heard,

6-11;

shows the blessedness of the righteous, 12-14;

again earnestly implores the Divine mercy; and prays for the

restoration of Israel, 15-22.

NOTES ON PSALM XXV

This Psalm seems to refer to the case of the captives in Babylon, who complain of oppression from their enemies, and earnestly beg the help and mercy of God.

It is the first of those called acrostic Psalms, i.e., Psalms each line of which begins with a several letter of the Hebrew alphabet in their common order. Of acrostic Psalms there are seven, viz., Psalms 25:0, Psalms 34:0, Psalms 37:0, Psalms 111:0, Psalms 112:0, Psalms 119:0, and Psalms 145:0. It is fashionable to be violent in encomiums on the Jews for the very faithful manner in which they have preserved the Hebrew Scriptures; but these encomiums are, in general, ill placed. Even this Psalm is a proof with what carelessness they have watched over the sacred deposit committed to their trust. The letter vau is wanting in the fifth verse, and koph in the eighteenth; the letter resh being twice inserted, once instead of koph, and a whole line added at the end, entirely out of the alphabetical series.

Verse Psalms 25:1. Do I lift up my soul. — His soul was cast down, and by prayer and faith he endeavours to lift it up to God.