Psalms 25:20

Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist speaks as a petitioner facing numerous enemies who hate him with vicious hatred, positioned between his complaint in verse 19 and his declaration of waiting on God in verse 21.

The words — The Hebrew שָׁמְרָה (shamra) means "guard" or "preserve," and חָסִיתִי (chasiti) translates literally to "I have taken refuge."

The thread — The specific plea to avoid shame while taking refuge appears in Psalms 71:1, while the related theme of God preserving the soul recurs in Psalms 121:7 and Psalms 17:8.

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to identify their need for divine protection from enemies and disgrace, grounding that need solely in the act of taking refuge in God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

שָׁמְרָ֣הsha.me.Ra/hpreserve/ !נַ֭פְשִׁיNaf.sh/ilife/ my וְהַצִּילֵ֑נִיve./ha.tzi.Le./niand/ deliver/ me אַל־'al-may not אֵ֝ב֗וֹשׁ'e.Vo.oshI be put to shame כִּֽי־ki-for חָסִ֥יתִיcha.Si.tiI have taken refugeבָֽךְ׃Va/khin/ you

King James Version

O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

Cross-references

Psalms 71:1 In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
Psalms 121:7 The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.
Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
Joel 2:26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you. My people will never again be put to shame.
Psalms 86:2 Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You.
Psalms 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.
Luke 23:46 Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”