Psalm 25:8
New International Version
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

New Living Translation
The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

English Standard Version
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

Berean Standard Bible
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.

King James Bible
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

New King James Version
Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

New American Standard Bible
The LORD is good and upright; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

NASB 1995
Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

NASB 1977
Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

Legacy Standard Bible
Good and upright is Yahweh; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

Amplified Bible
Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD is good and upright; therefore He shows sinners the way.

American Standard Version
Good and upright is Jehovah: Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.

Contemporary English Version
You are honest and merciful, and you teach sinners how to follow your path.

English Revised Version
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD is good and decent. That is why he teaches sinners the way they should live.

Good News Translation
Because the LORD is righteous and good, he teaches sinners the path they should follow.

International Standard Version
The LORD is good and just; therefore he will teach sinners concerning the way.

Majority Standard Bible
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.

NET Bible
The LORD is both kind and fair; that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.

New Heart English Bible
Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.

Webster's Bible Translation
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

World English Bible
Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Good and upright [is] YHWH, "" Therefore He directs sinners in the way.

Young's Literal Translation
Good and upright is Jehovah, Therefore He directeth sinners in the way.

Smith's Literal Translation
Good and upright is Jehovah: for this he will teach the sinning in the way.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Lord is sweet and righteous. Because of this, he will grant a law to those who fall short in the way.

New American Bible
Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he shows sinners the way,

New Revised Standard Version
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore will he direct sinners in the way.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Good and upright is LORD JEHOVAH, therefore he corrects sinners in the way.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore doth He instruct sinners in the way.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
To You I Lift Up My Soul
7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD. 8Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. 9He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.…

Cross References
Psalm 86:5
For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

Psalm 145:9
The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.

Exodus 34:6
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.

Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

Romans 11:22
Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, / made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

Titus 3:4-5
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, / He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Matthew 11:29-30
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”


Treasury of Scripture

Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

Good

Psalm 119:68
Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

upright

Psalm 92:15
To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Isaiah 26:7
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

teach

Proverbs 1:20-23
Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: …

Proverbs 2:1-6
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; …

Proverbs 9:4-6
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, …

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Psalm 25
1. David's confidence in prayer
7. He prays for remission of sins
16. and for help in affliction














Good and upright is the LORD;
The declaration of God's goodness and uprightness is foundational to understanding His character. In the Hebrew context, "good" (טוֹב, tov) implies moral excellence and benevolence, while "upright" (יָשָׁר, yashar) suggests righteousness and integrity. This aligns with the consistent biblical portrayal of God as holy and just (Isaiah 6:3, Deuteronomy 32:4). The goodness of God is a recurring theme throughout the Psalms, emphasizing His kindness and mercy (Psalm 145:9). The uprightness of God assures believers of His fairness and justice, as seen in His dealings with Israel and the nations (Psalm 9:8). This dual attribute of God is a comfort to the faithful, knowing that His actions are always in accordance with His perfect nature.

therefore He shows sinners the way.
The phrase indicates a direct consequence of God's character: His guidance to sinners. The Hebrew word for "shows" (יֹורֶה, yoreh) can also mean "to teach" or "to instruct," suggesting an active role in leading individuals towards righteousness. This reflects God's desire for repentance and restoration, as seen in Ezekiel 18:23, where God expresses no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they turn from their ways and live. The "way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) often symbolizes a path of life or conduct, aligning with the wisdom literature's emphasis on choosing the path of righteousness (Proverbs 3:6). This guidance is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who declared Himself the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), providing the ultimate path to reconciliation with God. The connection to Christ highlights the prophetic nature of the Psalms, pointing to the Messiah as the embodiment of God's guidance and salvation for sinners.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The central figure in this verse, representing God as both good and upright. His character is the foundation for His guidance.

2. Sinners
Those who have missed the mark of God's standards. The verse highlights God's willingness to guide them despite their shortcomings.

3. The Way
Symbolic of the path of righteousness and truth that God reveals to those who seek Him.
Teaching Points
God's Character as a Guide
God's goodness and uprightness are the basis for His guidance. We can trust His direction because it stems from His perfect nature.

Hope for Sinners
No matter our past, God is willing to guide us. His willingness to show sinners the way is a testament to His grace and mercy.

The Importance of Seeking God's Path
Actively seeking God's guidance is crucial. We must be open to His direction and willing to follow the path He reveals.

Trust in Divine Wisdom
Trusting in God's wisdom over our understanding is essential. His ways are higher than ours, and His guidance is always for our good.

Living Uprightly
As recipients of God's guidance, we are called to live uprightly, reflecting His character in our daily lives.(8)"With recollections clear, august, sublime,

Of God's great Truth and Right immutable

She queened it o'er her weakness."--A. H. CLOUGH.

Verse 8. - Good and upright is the Lord. A transition. From prayer the psalmist turns to reflection, and meditates awhile (vers. 8-10) on the character and ways of God. God is, indeed, "good," as he has implied in the preceding verse - i.e., kind, tender, gentle, merciful; but he is also "upright" (יָשָׁר) - just, straight, strict, undeviating from the path of right. As Bishop Butler observes, "Divine goodness, with which, if I mistake not, we make very free in our speculations, may not be a bare single disposition to produce happiness, but a disposition to make the good, the faithful, the honest man happy" ('Anal.,' 1:2, p. 41) - s disposition, i.e., to be just as well as merciful to distribute happiness by the canon of right. Therefore will he teach sinners in the way. He will not abandon sinners - this is his "goodness;" but will reclaim them, chasten them, make them to walk in his way - this is his uprightness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Good
טוֹב־ (ṭō·wḇ-)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

and upright
וְיָשָׁ֥ר (wə·yā·šār)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

[is] the LORD;
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

therefore
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

He shows
יוֹרֶ֖ה (yō·w·reh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

sinners
חַטָּאִ֣ים (ḥaṭ·ṭā·’îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2400: A criminal, one accounted guilty

the way.
בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ (bad·dā·reḵ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action


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OT Poetry: Psalm 25:8 Good and upright is Yahweh therefore he (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 25:7
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