In the Shadow of Your Wings

A (A)Prayer of David.

17 Hear a just cause, O Lord; (B)attend to my cry!
    Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From your presence (C)let my vindication come!
    Let your eyes behold the right!

You have (D)tried my heart, you have (E)visited me by (F)night,
    you have (G)tested me, and you will find nothing;
    I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
    I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have (H)held fast to your paths;
    my feet have not slipped.

I (I)call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    (J)incline your ear to me; hear my words.
(K)Wondrously show[a] your steadfast love,
    O Savior of those who seek refuge
    from (L)their adversaries at your right hand.

Keep me as (M)the apple of your eye;
    hide me in (N)the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who do me violence,
    my deadly enemies who (O)surround me.

10 (P)They close their hearts to pity;
    with their mouths they (Q)speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our (R)steps;
    they set their eyes to (S)cast us to the ground.
12 He is like a lion eager to tear,
    as a young lion (T)lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
    Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O Lord,
    from (U)men of the world whose (V)portion is in this life.[b]
You fill their womb with treasure;[c]
    they are satisfied with (W)children,
    and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall (X)behold your face in righteousness;
    when I (Y)awake, I shall be (Z)satisfied with your likeness.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:7 Or Distinguish me by
  2. Psalm 17:14 Or from men whose portion in life is of the world
  3. Psalm 17:14 Or As for your treasured ones, you fill their womb

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Prayer of David.

17 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
    Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From thee let my vindication come!
    Let thy eyes see the right!

If thou triest my heart, if thou visitest me by night,
    if thou testest me, thou wilt find no wickedness in me;
    my mouth does not transgress.
With regard to the works of men, by the word of thy lips
    I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to thy paths,
    my feet have not slipped.

I call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God;
    incline thy ear to me, hear my words.
Wondrously show thy steadfast love,
    O savior of those who seek refuge
    from their adversaries at thy right hand.

Keep me as the apple of the eye;
    hide me in the shadow of thy wings,
from the wicked who despoil me,
    my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They close their hearts to pity;
    with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They track me down; now they surround me;
    they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion eager to tear,
    as a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! confront them, overthrow them!
    Deliver my life from the wicked by thy sword,
14 from men by thy hand, O Lord,
    from men whose portion in life is of the world.
May their belly be filled with what thou hast stored up for them;
    may their children have more than enough;
    may they leave something over to their babes.

15 As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness;
    when I awake, I shall be satisfied with beholding thy form.