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Prayer for protection against oppressors.

A Prayer of David.

17 Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry;
Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
[a]Let thine eyes look upon equity.
Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night;
Thou hast tried me, and [b]findest nothing;
I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips
I have kept me from the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to thy paths,
My feet have not slipped.
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God:
Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Show thy marvellous lovingkindness,
O thou that savest [c]by thy right hand them that take refuge in thee
From those that rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of the eye;
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
From the wicked that oppress me,
My deadly enemies, that compass me about.
10 [d]They are inclosed in their own fat:
With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps;
They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey,
And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O Jehovah,
[e]Confront him, cast him down:
Deliver my soul from [f]the wicked by thy sword;
14 From [g]men by thy hand, O Jehovah,
From men [h]of the world, whose portion is in this life,
And whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure:
They are satisfied with children,
And leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, [i]I shall behold thy face in righteousness;
[j]I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with beholding thy form.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:2 Or, Thine eyes behold with equity
  2. Psalm 17:3 Or, findest no evil purpose in me; My mouth etc.
  3. Psalm 17:7 Or, them that take refuge . . . rise up against thy right hand
  4. Psalm 17:10 Or, They have shut up their heart
  5. Psalm 17:13 Or, Forestall
  6. Psalm 17:13 Or, the wicked, who is thy sword
  7. Psalm 17:14 Or, men who are thy hand
  8. Psalm 17:14 Or, whose portion in life is of the world
  9. Psalm 17:15 Or, let me
  10. Psalm 17:15 Or, let me

Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

A Prayer of David.

17 Hear a (A)just cause, O Lord, (B)give heed to my cry;
(C)Give ear to my prayer, which is not from (D)deceitful lips.
Let (E)my [a]judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with (F)equity.
You have (G)tried my heart;
You have visited me by night;
You have (H)tested me and (I)You find [b]nothing;
I have (J)purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
As for the deeds of men, (K)by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the (L)paths of the violent.
My (M)steps have held fast to Your [c]paths.
My (N)feet have not slipped.

I have (O)called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
(P)Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
(Q)Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,
O (R)Savior of those who take refuge [d]at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as [e]the (S)apple of the eye;
Hide me (T)in the shadow of Your wings
From the (U)wicked who despoil me,
My (V)deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have (W)closed their [f]unfeeling heart,
With their mouth they (X)speak proudly.
11 They have now (Y)surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes (Z)to cast us down to the ground.
12 He is (AA)like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion (AB)lurking in hiding places.

13 (AC)Arise, O Lord, confront him, (AD)bring him low;
(AE)Deliver my soul from the wicked with (AF)Your sword,
14 From men with (AG)Your hand, O Lord,
From men [g]of the world, (AH)whose portion is in this life,
And whose belly You (AI)fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And leave their abundance to their babes.
15 As for me, I shall (AJ)behold Your face in righteousness;
(AK)I will be satisfied [h]with Your (AL)likeness when I awake.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:2 I.e. vindication
  2. Psalm 17:3 Or no evil device in me; My mouth
  3. Psalm 17:5 Lit tracks
  4. Psalm 17:7 Or from those who rise up...at Your right hand
  5. Psalm 17:8 Lit the pupil, the daughter of the eye
  6. Psalm 17:10 Lit fat
  7. Psalm 17:14 Or whose portion in life is of the world
  8. Psalm 17:15 Or with beholding