Psalm 17
Lexham English Bible
Prayer for Vindication and Protection
A prayer of David.[a]
17 O Yahweh, hear a just cause.
Hear my cry; heed my prayer
I make without deceitful lips.
2 Let my vindication come forth from you;
let your eyes see fairness.
3 You have tried my heart;
you have examined me by night;
you have tested me; you found nothing.
I have decided that my mouth will not transgress.
4 As for the works of humankind,
by the word of your lips,
I have kept from the ways of the violent.
5 I have held my steps in your path
My feet will not slip.
6 As for me, I have called on you
because you will answer me, O God.
Incline your ear to me.
Hear my words.[b]
7 Show wondrously your acts of loyal love,
O Savior of those who take refuge
at your right hand[c]
from those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye.[d]
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the presence[e] of the wicked who destroy me,
those enemies against my life,
they that surround me.
10 They have shut off their calloused[f] heart;
with their mouth they speak arrogantly.
11 Now they surround us at our every step.
They intend[g]
to pin[h] me to the ground.
12 He is like[i] a lion; he longs to tear apart,
and like a strong lion crouching in hiding places.
13 Rise up, O Yahweh, confront him.[j]
Make him bow down.
Rescue with your sword my life from the wicked,
14 from men by your hand, O Yahweh, from men of this world.
Their share is in this life,[k] and you fill their stomach with your treasure.
They are satisfied with children.
They bequeath their excess to their children.
15 By contrast, I in righteousness shall see your face.
Upon awakening I will be satisfied seeing your form.
Footnotes
- Psalm 17:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
- Psalm 17:6 Hebrew “word”
- Psalm 17:7 Or “saving by your right hand those”
- Psalm 17:8 Literally “the little man of the daughter of your eye”
- Psalm 17:9 Literally “face”
- Psalm 17:10 Or “fat”
- Psalm 17:11 Literally “set their eyes”
- Psalm 17:11 Literally “to stretch”
- Psalm 17:12 Literally “His image”
- Psalm 17:13 Literally “his face”
- Psalm 17:14 Literally “the life”
Psalm 17
English Standard Version
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!
2 From your presence (C)let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
3 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.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have (H)held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6 I (I)call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
(J)incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 (K)Wondrously show[a] your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from (L)their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Keep me as (M)the apple of your eye;
hide me in (N)the shadow of your wings,
9 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
- Psalm 17:7 Or Distinguish me by
- Psalm 17:14 Or from men whose portion in life is of the world
- Psalm 17:14 Or As for your treasured ones, you fill their womb
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
