Psalm 17-20
King James Version
17 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14 From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
18 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
20 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.
Psalm 17-20
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.
The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, (AA)the servant of the Lord, (AB)who addressed the words of this (AC)song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:
18 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my (AD)rock and my (AE)fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my (AF)rock, in (AG)whom I take refuge,
my (AH)shield, and (AI)the horn of my salvation, my (AJ)stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is (AK)worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 (AL)The cords of death encompassed me;
(AM)the torrents of destruction assailed me;[d]
5 (AN)the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 (AO)In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his (AP)temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
7 Then the earth (AQ)reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,[e]
and devouring (AR)fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He (AS)bowed the heavens and (AT)came down;
(AU)thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on (AV)the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his (AW)canopy around him,
thick clouds (AX)dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
(AY)hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
13 The Lord also (AZ)thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his (BA)voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his (BB)arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and (BC)routed them.
15 Then (BD)the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your (BE)rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of (BF)the breath of your nostrils.
16 He (BG)sent from on high, he took me;
he (BH)drew me out of (BI)many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were (BJ)too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into (BK)a broad place;
he rescued me, because he (BL)delighted in me.
20 The Lord dealt with me (BM)according to my righteousness;
according to (BN)the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
21 For I have (BO)kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For (BP)all his rules[f] were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was (BQ)blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 With (BR)the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with (BS)the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save (BT)a humble people,
but (BU)the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my (BV)lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can (BW)leap over (BX)a wall.
30 This God—his way is (BY)perfect;[g]
the word of the Lord (BZ)proves true;
he is (CA)a shield for all those who (CB)take refuge in him.
31 For (CC)who is God, but the Lord?
And who is (CD)a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who (CE)equipped me with strength
and made my way (CF)blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a (CG)deer
and set me secure on (CH)the heights.
34 He (CI)trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand (CJ)supported me,
and your (CK)gentleness made me great.
36 You (CL)gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
40 You made my enemies (CM)turn their backs to me,[h]
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 (CN)They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them fine as (CO)dust before the wind;
I cast them out like (CP)the mire of the streets.
43 You delivered me from (CQ)strife with the people;
you made me (CR)the head of the nations;
(CS)people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
(CT)foreigners (CU)came cringing to me.
45 (CV)Foreigners lost heart
and (CW)came trembling out of their fortresses.
46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and (CX)subdued peoples under me,
48 who rescued me from my enemies;
yes, you (CY)exalted me above those who rose against me;
you delivered me from (CZ)the man of violence.
49 (DA)For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and (DB)sing to your name.
50 Great (DC)salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his (DD)anointed,
to (DE)David and his offspring forever.
The Law of the Lord Is Perfect
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
19 (DF)The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above[i] proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 (DG)Their (DH)voice[j] goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for (DI)the sun,
5 (DJ)which comes out like (DK)a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 (DL)The law of the Lord is perfect,[k]
(DM)reviving the soul;
(DN)the testimony of the Lord is (DO)sure,
(DP)making wise (DQ)the simple;
8 (DR)the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is (DS)pure,
(DT)enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules[l] of the Lord are (DU)true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than (DV)gold,
even much (DW)fine gold;
(DX)sweeter also than honey
and drippings of (DY)the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
(DZ)in keeping them there is great reward.
12 (EA)Who can discern his errors?
(EB)Declare me innocent from (EC)hidden faults.
13 (ED)Keep back your servant also from (EE)presumptuous sins;
let them not have (EF)dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my (EG)rock and my (EH)redeemer.
Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
20 May the Lord (EI)answer you in the day of trouble!
May (EJ)the name of the God of Jacob (EK)protect you!
2 May he send you help from (EL)the sanctuary
and give you support from (EM)Zion!
3 May he (EN)remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
4 May he (EO)grant you your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over (EP)your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our (EQ)banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with (ER)the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in (ES)chariots and some in (ET)horses,
(EU)but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
9 O Lord, save (EV)the king!
May he answer us when we call.
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
- Psalm 18:4 Or terrified me
- Psalm 18:8 Or in his wrath
- Psalm 18:22 Or just decrees
- Psalm 18:30 Or blameless
- Psalm 18:40 Or You gave me my enemies' necks
- Psalm 19:1 Hebrew the expanse; compare Genesis 1:6–8
- Psalm 19:4 Or Their measuring line
- Psalm 19:7 Or blameless
- Psalm 19:9 Or just decrees
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
