Psalm 25 7

Psalm 25:7 kjv

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

Psalm 25:7 nkjv

Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD.

Psalm 25:7 niv

Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.

Psalm 25:7 esv

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

Psalm 25:7 nlt

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O LORD.

Psalm 25 verses

Psalm 25 7 Meaning

Psalm 25:7 is a heartfelt plea from David to God, expressing profound humility and dependence. He asks the Almighty not to remember, or act upon, the sins committed during his youth and his deliberate transgressions. Instead, he appeals for God to remember him—to act with favor and compassion—based solely on the divine attributes of steadfast love (covenant loyalty) and inherent goodness, rather than on any human merit or deed. It is a profound acknowledgment of sin, coupled with an unwavering trust in God's merciful character as the only ground for forgiveness and restoration.

Psalm 25 7 Context

Psalm 25 is an acrostic psalm (though irregular) attributed to David, a prayer of lament and petition marked by themes of seeking God's guidance, forgiveness, and protection from enemies. It expresses the supplicant's struggle, vulnerability, and dependence on God's faithfulness and truth. Verse 7 sits within a larger appeal for divine instruction and salvation (vv. 4-7). David recognizes his past failures and the danger they pose if God should call them to account. His specific plea concerning the "sins of my youth" acknowledges a period often associated with foolishness and immature decisions, while "transgressions" covers a broader category of more deliberate rebellions against divine will. The entire prayer is framed by a reliance on God's character—His "goodness" and "steadfast love"—as the sole basis for hope, shifting the focus from the supplicant's unworthiness to the Almighty's overflowing grace. This psalm anticipates the New Covenant promise of God's complete removal of remembered sin.

Psalm 25 7 Word Analysis

• "Remember not" (אַל־תִּזְכֹּר, al-tizkor): This strong negative imperative is derived from the Hebrew verb זָכַר (zakhar), which means "to remember." In the biblical context, zakhar often carries the connotation of acting upon what is recalled. Therefore, "remember not" is not a request for God to become forgetful in an absolute sense, but rather a fervent plea for Him not to hold those sins against the supplicant, not to act in judgment or condemnation based on them. It is a request for judicial non-remembrance, indicating a desire for full forgiveness that precludes divine retribution for past deeds.

• "the sins" (חַטָּאוֹת, chattâ’ôt): The plural form of חַטָּאָה (chattah). This Hebrew term broadly means "missing the mark." It encompasses moral failings, errors, wrongdoings, and shortcomings against God's standards, whether intentional or unintentional. It highlights a deviation from the righteous path.

• "of my youth" (נְעוּרָ֑י, nĕ‘ûrây): This refers to the period of one's early life, from childhood to young adulthood. It specifically points to the accumulated moral missteps, impulsivities, and lack of wisdom characteristic of that age. The admission of "sins of my youth" indicates self-awareness of formative periods where moral clarity or discipline might have been lacking, yet accountability for these actions is still acknowledged.

• "or my transgressions" (וּפְשָׁעַי, ûfĕshā‘ay): From פֶּשַׁע (pesha), which signifies "rebellion," "trespass," or "breaking away." This term implies a more severe and often deliberate act of defiance against authority, a conscious breach of a covenant or command. While chattah might be an error, pesha implies a more intentional uprising against divine will, an open act of disloyalty. Juxtaposing chattah and pesha demonstrates a comprehensive admission of all types of sin, from youthful mistakes to willful rebellion.

• "according to Your steadfast love" (כְּחַסְדְּךָ֥, kĕkhasdĕkā): The Hebrew word חֶסֶד (chesed) is one of the most significant theological terms in the Old Testament. It denotes "steadfast love," "covenant loyalty," "mercy," "unfailing love," "kindness," or "goodness." It is not mere affection but a faithful, enduring, and loyal love that God demonstrates, especially within the context of His covenant relationship with His people. This plea entirely bypasses the petitioner's merit, anchoring itself instead solely on God's covenantal faithfulness and loyal devotion.

• "remember me" (זָכְרֵנִי, zākhĕrēnî): This is again from זָכַר, but in the positive sense. Here, it is a direct appeal for God to act on his behalf—to recall the petitioner with favor, compassion, protection, and salvation. It creates a powerful contrast with the earlier "remember not," underscoring the dynamic nature of God's remembrance: forgetting in terms of judgment, but remembering in terms of active blessing and redemption.

• "for the sake of Your goodness" (טובתך, ṭôvātẖeka): From טוֹבָה (tovah), meaning "goodness," "kindness," or "prosperity." This refers to God's inherent nature of benevolence and His disposition to do good. It serves as a further bedrock for the psalmist's plea, emphasizing that God's actions are driven by His perfect, compassionate character. It reinforces chesed by pointing to the fundamental excellence and gracious disposition of God Himself.

• "O Lord" (יְהוָ֑ה, YHWH): The sacred, covenantal name of God, revealing Him as the eternally existent, personal God who makes and keeps covenants. Addressing God by this name underscores the covenant relationship within which the plea is made, appealing to God's self-revelation as a merciful and gracious covenant partner.

Psalm 25 7 Bonus Section

• The Power of God's Remembrance: The concept of "remembrance" in Hebrew thought is not a passive recall but an active engagement. When God "remembers," He acts. When He is asked to "remember not," it's a plea for Him to withhold His judgmental action. Conversely, "remember me" is a request for Him to initiate favorable, saving action. This dynamic understanding of zakhar makes the psalmist's prayer incredibly potent and specific.
• Anticipation of New Covenant Grace: Psalm 25:7 beautifully foreshadows the complete and final forgiveness promised in the New Covenant. The Old Testament longed for a time when God would indeed "remember sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12). David’s prayer here is a yearning that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice, where believers' sins are truly covered and remembered no more by God for judgment.
• Distinction Between Sins: The use of both "sins" (chattah) and "transgressions" (pesha) underscores the comprehensive nature of David's confession. It acknowledges both general shortcomings and more willful acts of rebellion. This indicates a deep, honest self-assessment before God, recognizing sin in its various forms and severity.

Psalm 25 7 Commentary

Psalm 25:7 articulates a profoundly humble and theologically astute prayer. David does not minimize his sin, confessing both the impulsive "sins of my youth" and more defiant "transgressions." This comprehensive acknowledgment speaks to the pervasiveness of human failure across life stages and behavioral types. Crucially, his hope for deliverance from the consequences of these sins is rooted not in any perceived personal righteousness or penance, but exclusively in the character of God.

The heart of the petition lies in the contrasting uses of "remember": "Remember not" my sins, but "remember me." This highlights God's unique power to effectively "forget" sin in terms of judgment (i.e., not calling it to mind for punitive action), while simultaneously "remembering" His faithful servant with redemptive grace. This divine "forgetting" of sin is a theological miracle, fully realized in the New Covenant through the atoning work of Christ (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17).

The foundation for this bold request rests squarely on God's "steadfast love" (chesed) and "goodness" (tovah). Chesed speaks of God's covenant loyalty—His unfailing, faithful love towards His people, a love deeper and more enduring than any human failing. Tovah speaks to God's inherent benevolent nature, His being perfectly good in Himself and desiring good for His creation. These attributes provide the perfect justification for an undeserving sinner to approach the holy God with confidence, transforming what might otherwise be a despairing cry into a hopeful supplication. The psalmist trusts that God's very nature compels Him to show mercy.

This verse therefore serves as a timeless model for prayer: it involves honest confession of sin, humble reliance on God's character (rather than human merit), and confident appeal to His covenant mercy. It reminds believers that true forgiveness stems solely from God's gracious heart.