Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 2: Psalms 18–38

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Psalm 25 with Augustine –Walking the Narrow Road I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame (v. 2). O my God, from trusting in myself I was brought even to this fleshly weakness; and I who on abandoning God wanted to be equal to God, fearing death from the smallest insect, was in ridicule ashamed for my pride; now, therefore, in you I trust, I shall not be ashamed . Nor let my enemies triumph over me (v. 2), who by ensnaring me with serpent-like and secret suggestions, and prompting me with “Well done, well done,” have brought me down to this. For no one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame (v. 3). Let them be confounded who do vain things unrighteously, in order to acquire things that pass away. Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths (v. 4): not those which are broad and lead many to destruction (Matt 7:13); but your paths, narrow, and known to few, teach me . Guide me in your truth (v. 5), avoiding error. And teach me , for by myself I know nothing but falsehood. For you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long (v. 5). For banished by you from Paradise, and having taken my journey into a far country, I cannot return by myself, unless you meet the wanderer. My return awaits your mercy. Good and upright is the LORD (v. 8). The Lord is gracious, since even sinners and the ungodly he pitied by forgiving all that is past. But the Lord is upright too; after the mercy of undeserved grace, he requires from us good works appropriate for the final judgment. Therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. For he first expressed mercy to bring them into the way. He guides the humble in what is right (v. 9), and will not condemn in the judgment those who