Prayer with Confidence in Final Salvation

A Prayer of David.

17 Hear a just cause, O Lord,
Attend to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
Let my vindication come from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

You have tested my heart;
You have visited me in the night;
(A)You have [a]tried me and have found [b]nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth shall not (B)transgress.
Concerning the works of men,
By the word of Your lips,
I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
(C)Uphold my steps in Your paths,
That my footsteps may not slip.

(D)I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who [c]save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as the [d]apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
From the wicked who oppress me,
From my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They have closed up their (E)fat hearts;
With their mouths they (F)speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey,
And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O Lord,
Confront him, cast him down;
Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
14 With Your hand from men, O Lord,
From men of the world who have their portion in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.
They are satisfied with children,
And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

15 As for me, (G)I will see Your face in righteousness;
(H)I shall be satisfied when I (I)awake in Your likeness.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:3 examined
  2. Psalm 17:3 Nothing evil
  3. Psalm 17:7 deliver
  4. Psalm 17:8 pupil

Psalm 17

A Prayer for Protection

A Davidic prayer.

Lord, hear a just cause;(A)
pay attention to my cry;
listen to my prayer—
from lips free of deceit.(B)
Let my vindication come from You,
for You see what is right.(C)
You have tested my heart;(D)
You have examined me at night.
You have tried me and found nothing evil;(E)
I have determined that my mouth will not sin.[a]
Concerning what people do:
by the word of Your lips[b]
I have avoided the ways of the violent.(F)
My steps are on Your paths;
my feet have not slipped.(G)

I call on You, God,
because You will answer me;(H)
listen closely to me; hear what I say.
Display the wonders of Your faithful love,(I)
Savior of all who seek refuge(J)
from those who rebel against Your right hand.[c]
Protect me as the pupil of Your eye;(K)
hide me in the shadow of Your wings(L)
from[d] the wicked who treat me violently,[e]
my deadly enemies who surround me.(M)

10 They have become hardened;[f](N)
their mouths speak arrogantly.(O)
11 They advance against me;[g] now they surround me.(P)
They are determined[h]
to throw me to the ground.(Q)
12 They are[i] like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.(R)

13 Rise up, Lord!
Confront him; bring him down.(S)
With Your sword, save me from the wicked.(T)
14 With Your hand, Lord, save me from men,
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life:
You fill their bellies with what You have in store;
their sons are satisfied,
and they leave their surplus to their children.(U)

15 But I will see Your face in righteousness;(V)
when I awake, I will be satisfied with Your presence.[j](W)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:3 Or [evil]; my mouth will not sin
  2. Psalm 17:4 God’s instruction
  3. Psalm 17:7 Or love, You who save with Your right hand those seeking refuge from adversaries
  4. Psalm 17:9 Lit from the presence of
  5. Psalm 17:9 Or who plunder me
  6. Psalm 17:10 Lit have closed up their fat
  7. Psalm 17:11 Vg; one Hb ms, LXX read They cast me out; MT reads Our steps
  8. Psalm 17:11 Lit They set their eyes
  9. Psalm 17:12 Lit He is
  10. Psalm 17:15 Lit form