What does Psalms Chapter 25 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The speaker invites testing while asserting innocence and refusal of wicked company. Future washing and altar approach accompany love of God’s house. A plea for mercy ends with promised blessing in churches.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Judica me, Domine. The separate heading describes David's request for delivery in distress so he may worship in God's tabernacle; the inscription is unto the end, for David. He asks judgment because he walked in innocence and trusted the Lord, saying he shall not be weakened. He asks proving and trying, burning of reins and heart, with God's mercy before his eyes and pleasure in His truth.

He has not sat with a council of vanity, will not go with those doing unjust things and has hated the malignant assembly; he will not sit with the wicked. He will wash hands among the innocent and compass God's altar so he may hear praise and tell wondrous works. He professes love for the house's beauty and the place of God's glory.

He asks that his soul not be taken with the wicked or life with bloody men, whose hands hold iniquities and right hands gifts. Reaffirming innocent conduct, he asks redemption and mercy. His foot has stood in the direct way and he will bless the Lord in churches. Future washing, compassing and blessing do not become a recorded completed procession, and no specific bribe transaction is described.

The story inside

Opening: The speaker invites testing while asserting innocence and refusal of wicked company. Development: Future washing and altar approach accompany love of God’s house. Conclusion: A plea for mercy ends with promised blessing in churches.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The speaker invites testing while asserting innocence and refusal of wicked company.
2
Future washing and altar approach accompany love of God’s house.
3
A plea for mercy ends with promised blessing in churches.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 59124–59126
Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence: and I have put my trust in the Lord, and shall not be weakened.
Lines 59128–59128
Prove me, O Lord, and try me; burn my reins and my heart.
Lines 59139–59140
I will wash my hands among the innocent; and will compass thy altar, O Lord:
Lines 59145–59146
I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house; and the place where thy glory dwelleth.
Lines 59157–59158
My foot hath stood in the direct way: in the churches I will bless thee, O Lord.