Psalm 25 21

Psalm 25:21 kjv

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

Psalm 25:21 nkjv

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.

Psalm 25:21 niv

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you.

Psalm 25:21 esv

May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

Psalm 25:21 nlt

May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.

Psalm 25 verses

Psalm 25 21 Meaning

Psalm 25:21 is a heartfelt plea to God for divine safeguarding. It expresses the psalmist's desire for personal virtues—integrity and uprightness—to serve as the context within which God's protection operates. The verse hinges on the psalmist's foundational trust in God, articulated by the declaration, "for I wait for You." This signifies an unwavering reliance on the Lord as the ultimate source of security and help, despite any challenges faced.

Psalm 25 21 Context

Psalm 25 is a deeply personal prayer, classified as an individual lament and prayer for divine guidance. Attributed to David, it reflects a period of distress, perhaps due to personal sin, opposition from enemies, or a plea for instruction in God's ways. The psalm is structured as an acrostic (though imperfect), moving from cries for forgiveness (vv. 6-7), to pleas for deliverance from adversaries (vv. 19-20), and appeals for divine direction (vv. 4-5). Verse 21 appears after an extended plea for rescue and divine favor (vv. 16-20). In this context, the psalmist confidently asserts his alignment with God's moral standards ("integrity and uprightness") and his steadfast hope in the Lord, providing a basis for his prayer for preservation. It encapsulates a trust that God acts on behalf of those who walk righteously and depend solely on Him.

Psalm 25 21 Word analysis

• Let: This imperative "Let" indicates a prayer or a strong petition. It's a call for God's direct intervention, demonstrating reliance on divine action rather than human ability for preservation.
• integrity: From the Hebrew word tom (תֹּם), meaning wholeness, completeness, blamelessness, sincerity, or straightforwardness. It describes a moral character that is undivided, without hidden motives, and truly devoted to God. It refers not to sinless perfection but to an upright and sincere heart that aims to live in full alignment with God's will. It denotes a person whose inner disposition matches their outward conduct.
• and: Connects the two qualities, "integrity" and "uprightness," presenting them as a unified virtuous stance.
• uprightness: From the Hebrew word yosher (יֹשֶׁר), meaning straightness, rectitude, righteousness, or equity. It signifies walking a direct, correct, and just path, avoiding deviance or corruption. While tom emphasizes internal sincerity, yosher points more to outward conduct that conforms to what is right and just in God's eyes.
• preserve: From the Hebrew word shamar (שָׁמַר), which means to keep, guard, watch, protect, or observe. It implies active, vigilant care and safeguarding by a superior power. The prayer is for God to act as the preserver, a divine guardian against harm or stumbling.
• me: Refers to the psalmist, making the prayer personal and direct. It represents any believer who seeks divine protection through a life of faith and obedience.
• for: The Hebrew kî (כִּי) here acts as a causal conjunction, introducing the reason or ground for the psalmist's plea. It connects his virtuous aspiration and hopeful expectation directly to his request for preservation. It suggests that because these conditions are present, God's preserving power is sought.
• I wait: From the Hebrew word yāḥal (יָחַל), meaning to wait, to hope, to be patient, or to eagerly expect. It's not passive idleness but an active, hopeful, and trusting anticipation rooted in faith. It conveys confident expectation in God's timing and fulfillment of His promises, regardless of immediate circumstances.
• for You: Directly addressing God (YHWH). This signifies the sole and exclusive object of the psalmist's hope and trust. All expectation is placed upon the Lord, emphasizing absolute dependence on His divine character and power, not on human efforts or virtues.

• "Let integrity and uprightness": These virtues are not seen as meriting salvation or preservation independently, but rather as the desired moral environment or disposition in which God's protective grace is invoked and effective. God, who is Himself upright and just, favors and protects those who strive for such character. It is a prayer for God to guard him in his righteous walk.
• "preserve me": This is the core request—a petition for God's active protection. It implies safety from physical harm, spiritual downfall, and malicious adversaries, which are prevalent themes throughout Psalm 25.
• "for I wait for You": This phrase establishes the deep, active faith and dependence of the psalmist on God. It grounds the entire plea for preservation in profound trust, indicating that the psalmist's hope and expectation are fixed solely on God. This "waiting" demonstrates a relationship of trust and patient reliance that honors God and serves as the ultimate basis for the prayer.

Psalm 25 21 Bonus section

This verse powerfully illustrates a core biblical principle: while salvation is by grace through faith and not by works, righteous living and sincere devotion are essential responses to that grace, and they create the context in which God's preserving work flourishes. It speaks to the relational aspect of faith, where a believer's trust and obedience invoke God's covenant faithfulness and protective power. The prayer does not claim entitlement but rather expresses confidence that God will attend to the cries of one who diligently seeks to honor Him and depend upon Him alone. The "waiting for You" highlights the critical element of enduring patience in God's timing, which is a hallmark of true faith.

Psalm 25 21 Commentary

Psalm 25:21 is a succinct yet profound declaration of a believer's reliance on God, rooted in a life purposed for holiness. The prayer, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me," does not assert that human virtues are a self-sufficient shield. Rather, it is an earnest plea to God to safeguard the psalmist because of his earnest desire to live by divine standards. God's character is aligned with integrity and uprightness, and His protection is naturally extended to those who seek to reflect His attributes. This aligns human striving for moral excellence with divine activity, yet positions God as the sole Agent of preservation. The subsequent clause, "for I wait for You," clarifies that the ultimate ground of security is not the psalmist's own righteousness, however genuine, but his absolute trust and hopeful anticipation in God alone. This waiting is an active posture of faith, indicating a surrendered will and patient expectation for God's timely intervention and care. Thus, the verse harmonizes righteous living with fervent faith, showing that genuine piety involves both aspiring to holy conduct and utterly depending on the Lord for all sustenance and security. It encourages believers to cultivate an authentic, upright life while placing their unwavering hope squarely in God, knowing He faithfully preserves those who cling to Him.