Psalm 17
Amplified Bible
Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.
A Prayer of David.
17 Hear the just (righteous) cause, O Lord; listen to my loud [piercing] cry;
Listen to my prayer, that comes from guileless lips.
2
Let my verdict of vindication come from Your presence;
May Your eyes look with equity and behold things that are just.
3
You have tried my heart;
You have visited me in the night;
You have tested me and You find nothing [evil in me];
I intend that my mouth will not transgress.
4
Concerning the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips
I have kept away from the paths of the violent.
5
My steps have held closely to Your paths;
My feet have not staggered.
6
I have called upon You, for You, O God, will answer me;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
7
Wondrously show Your [marvelous and amazing] lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
8
Keep me [in Your affectionate care, protect me] as the [a]apple of Your eye;
Hide me in the [protective] shadow of Your wings
9
From the wicked who despoil and deal violently with me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.
10
They have closed their [b]unfeeling heart [to kindness and compassion];
With their mouths they speak proudly and make presumptuous claims.
11
They track us down and have now surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes to force us to the ground,
12
He is like a lion eager to tear [his prey],
And like a young lion lurking in hiding places.
13
Arise, O Lord, confront him, cast him down;
Save my soul from the wicked with Your sword,
14
From men with Your hand, O Lord,
From men of the world [these moths of the night] whose portion [of enjoyment] is in this life—idle and vain,
And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And they leave what they have left [of wealth] to their children.
15
As for me, I shall see Your face in righteousness;
I will be [fully] satisfied when I awake [to find myself] seeing Your likeness.
Footnotes
- Psalm 17:8 Lit the pupil, the daughter of the eye.
- Psalm 17:10 Lit fat.
Psalm 17
The Message
17 1-2 Listen while I build my case, God,
the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.
Show the world I’m innocent—
in your heart you know I am.
3 Go ahead, examine me from inside out,
surprise me in the middle of the night—
You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.
My words don’t run loose.
4-5 I’m not trying to get my way
in the world’s way.
I’m trying to get your way,
your Word’s way.
I’m staying on your trail;
I’m putting one foot
In front of the other.
I’m not giving up.
6-7 I call to you, God, because I’m sure of an answer.
So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp!
Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;
take in your frightened children who
Are running from the neighborhood bullies
straight to you.
8-9 Keep your eye on me;
hide me under your cool wing feathers
From the wicked who are out to get me,
from mortal enemies closing in.
10-14 Their hearts are hard as nails,
their mouths blast hot air.
They are after me, nipping my heels,
determined to bring me down,
Lions ready to rip me apart,
young lions poised to pounce.
Up, God: beard them! break them!
By your sword, free me from their clutches;
Barehanded, God, break these mortals,
these flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today.
I’d like to see their bellies
swollen with famine food,
The weeds they’ve sown
harvested and baked into famine bread,
With second helpings for their children
and crusts for their babies to chew on.
15 And me? I plan on looking
you full in the face. When I get up,
I’ll see your full stature
and live heaven on earth.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson