Psalm 17

New International Version

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

¹Hear me,^(A) Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.^(B)
Hear^(C) my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.^(D)
²Let my vindication^(E) come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.^(F)

³Though you probe my heart,^(G)
    though you examine me at night and test me,^(H)
you will find that I have planned no evil;^(I)
    my mouth has not transgressed.^(J)
⁴Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
⁵My steps have held to your paths;^(K)
    my feet have not stumbled.^(L)

⁶I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;^(M)
    turn your ear to me^(N) and hear my prayer.^(O)
⁷Show me the wonders of your great love,^(P)
    you who save by your right hand^(Q)
    those who take refuge^(R) in you from their foes.
⁸Keep me^(S) as the apple of your eye;^(T)
    hide me^(U) in the shadow of your wings^(V)
⁹from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.^(W)

¹⁰They close up their callous hearts,^(X)
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.^(Y)
¹¹They have tracked me down, they now surround me,^(Z)
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
¹²They are like a lion^(AA) hungry for prey,^(AB)
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

¹³Rise up,^(AC) Lord, confront them, bring them down;^(AD)
    with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
¹⁴By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
    from those of this world^(AE) whose reward is in this life.^(AF)
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    and may there be leftovers^(AG) for their little ones.

¹⁵As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake,^(AH) I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.^(AI)

1 Samuel 23:1-18

New International Version

David Saves Keilah

23 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah^(A) and are looting the threshing floors,”^(B) ²he inquired^(C) of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

³But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

⁴Once again David inquired^(D) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines^(E) into your hand.^(F)” ⁵So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. ⁶(Now Abiathar^(G) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod^(H) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Saul Pursues David

⁷Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands,^(I) for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”^(J) ⁸And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

⁹When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar^(K) the priest, “Bring the ephod.^(L)” ¹⁰David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. ¹¹Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will.”

¹²Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender^(M) me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.”

¹³So David and his men,^(N) about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

¹⁴David stayed in the wilderness^(O) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph.^(P) Day after day Saul searched^(Q) for him, but God did not^(R) give David into his hands.

¹⁵While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that^[a] Saul had come out to take his life.^(S) ¹⁶And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength^(T) in God. ¹⁷“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king^(U) over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” ¹⁸The two of them made a covenant^(V) before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.