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A Prayer by David.

17 Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea.
    Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
Let my sentence come out of your presence.
    Let your eyes look on equity.
You have proved my heart.
    You have visited me in the night.
    You have tried me, and found nothing.
    I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths.
    My feet have not slipped.
I have called on you, for you will answer me, God.
    Turn your ear to me.
    Hear my speech.
Show your marvelous loving kindness,
    you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
    Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who oppress me,
    my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10 They close up their callous hearts.
    With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded 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,
    as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, Yahweh, confront him.
    Cast him down.
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14     from men by your hand, Yahweh,
    from men of the world, whose portion is in this life.
You fill the belly of your cherished ones.
    Your sons have plenty,
    and they store up wealth for their children.
15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.
    I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

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