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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.
Let my vindication come forth from you;
let your eyes see fairness.
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.
As for the works of humankind,
by the word of your lips,
I have kept from the ways of the violent.
I have held my steps in your path
My feet will not slip.
As for me, I have called on you
because you will answer me, O God.
Incline your ear to me.
Hear my words.[b]
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.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.[d]
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
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

  1. Psalm 17:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 17:6 Hebrew “word”
  3. Psalm 17:7 Or “saving by your right hand those”
  4. Psalm 17:8 Literally “the little man of the daughter of your eye”
  5. Psalm 17:9 Literally “face”
  6. Psalm 17:10 Or “fat”
  7. Psalm 17:11 Literally “set their eyes”
  8. Psalm 17:11 Literally “to stretch”
  9. Psalm 17:12 Literally “His image”
  10. Psalm 17:13 Literally “his face”
  11. Psalm 17:14 Literally “the life”

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

Hear me,(A) Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.(B)
Hear(C) my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.(D)
Let my vindication(E) come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.(F)

Though you probe my heart,(G)
    though you examine me at night and test me,(H)
you will find that I have planned no evil;(I)
    my mouth has not transgressed.(J)
Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
My steps have held to your paths;(K)
    my feet have not stumbled.(L)

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;(M)
    turn your ear to me(N) and hear my prayer.(O)
Show me the wonders of your great love,(P)
    you who save by your right hand(Q)
    those who take refuge(R) in you from their foes.
Keep me(S) as the apple of your eye;(T)
    hide me(U) in the shadow of your wings(V)
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.(W)

10 They close up their callous hearts,(X)
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.(Y)
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,(Z)
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion(AA) hungry for prey,(AB)
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

13 Rise up,(AC) Lord, confront them, bring them down;(AD)
    with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
    from those of this world(AE) whose reward is in this life.(AF)
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    and may there be leftovers(AG) for their little ones.

15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
    when I awake,(AH) I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.(AI)