Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

A Prayer of David.

17 Hear a (A)just cause, Lord, (B)give Your attention to my cry;
(C)Listen 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)integrity.
You have (G)put my heart to the test;
You have visited me by night;
You have (H)sifted me and (I)You find [b]nothing;
My (J)intent is that my mouth will not offend.
As for the works of mankind, (K)by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the (L)ways of the violent.
My (M)steps have held to Your [c]paths.
My (N)feet have not slipped.

I have (O)called upon You, for You will answer me, God;
(P)Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
(Q)Show Your wonderful faithfulness,
(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 deal violently with me,
My (V)deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have (W)closed their [f]unfeeling hearts,
With their mouths 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 secret places.

13 (AC)Arise, Lord, confront him, (AD)make him bow down;
(AE)Save my soul from the wicked with (AF)Your sword,
14 From people by (AG)Your hand, Lord,
From people [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 babies.
15 As for me, I shall (AJ)behold Your face in righteousness;
(AK)I shall be satisfied with Your (AL)likeness when I awake.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:2 I.e., vindication
  2. Psalm 17:3 Or no shameful act 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

Psalm 17

A Prayer for Protection

A prayer of David.

Lord, hear a just cause;(A)
pay attention to my cry;
listen to my prayer—
from lips free of deceit.(B)
Let my vindication come from you,
for you see what is right.(C)
You have tested my heart;(D)
you have examined me at night.
You have tried me and found nothing evil;(E)
I have determined that my mouth will not sin.[a]
Concerning what people do:
by the words from your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.(F)
My steps are on your paths;
my feet have not slipped.(G)

I call on you, God,
because you will answer me;(H)
listen closely to me; hear what I say.
Display the wonders of your faithful love,(I)
Savior of all who seek refuge(J)
from those who rebel against your right hand.[b]
Protect me as the pupil of your eye;(K)
hide me in the shadow of your wings(L)
from[c] the wicked who treat me violently,[d]
my deadly enemies who surround me.(M)

10 They are uncaring;[e](N)
their mouths speak arrogantly.(O)
11 They advance against me;[f] now they surround me.(P)
They are determined[g]
to throw me to the ground.(Q)
12 They are[h] like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.(R)

13 Rise up, Lord!
Confront him; bring him down.(S)
With your sword, save me from the wicked.(T)
14 With your hand, Lord, save me from men,
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life:
You fill their bellies with what you have in store;
their sons are satisfied,
and they leave their surplus to their children.(U)

15 But I will see your face in righteousness;(V)
when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.[i](W)

Footnotes

  1. 17:3 Or evil; my mouth will not sin
  2. 17:7 Or love, you who save with your right hand those seeking refuge from adversaries
  3. 17:9 Lit from the presence of
  4. 17:9 Or who plunder me
  5. 17:10 Lit have closed up their fat
  6. 17:11 Vg; MT reads Our steps
  7. 17:11 Lit They set their eyes
  8. 17:12 Lit He is
  9. 17:15 Lit form