R ‘Consider my enemies, for they are many,
And they hate me with cruel hatred.'
His thoughts now turn back to his enemies whom he has disregarded for most of the Psalm, for what has mattered first of all has been establishing his confidence in God and in His covenant, walking in God's ways and enjoying God's forgiveness of his sins. But if his enemies do triumph over him (Psalms 25:2) he knows that that will bring dishonour on YHWH for they are treacherous (Psalms 25:3), both towards him and towards God. And so he prays that God will behold his enemies who are many, and are not only many but are full of the kind of hatred that produces violence (‘the hatred of cruel violence'). Such experiences often occur to those who are faithful to God and His word.