translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: PSA

label: NET study note

text: . The psalmist asks for divine protection, guidance and forgiveness as he affirms his loyalty to and trust in the Lord. This psalm is an acrostic; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, except for v. 18 , which, like v. 19 , begins with ר ( resh ) instead of the expected ק ( qof ). The final verse, which begins with פ ( pe ), stands outside the acrostic scheme.


text: Teach me your paths . In this context the Lord ’s “ways” and “paths” refer to the moral principles which the Lord prescribes for his followers. See vv. 8-10 .


text: The Lord ’s commandments are referred to as truth here because they are a trustworthy and accurate expression of the divine will.


text: That is, the sins characteristic of youths, who lack moral discretion and wisdom.


text: Forgive my sin, because it is great . The psalmist readily admits his desperate need for forgiveness.