Psalm 17

A Prayer for Protection

A Davidic prayer.

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 word of Your lips[b]
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.[c]
Protect me as the pupil of Your eye;(K)
hide me in the shadow of Your wings(L)
from[d] the wicked who treat me violently,[e]
my deadly enemies who surround me.(M)

10 They have become hardened;[f](N)
their mouths speak arrogantly.(O)
11 They advance against me;[g] now they surround me.(P)
They are determined[h]
to throw me to the ground.(Q)
12 They are[i] 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.[j](W)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:3 Or [evil]; my mouth will not sin
  2. Psalm 17:4 God’s instruction
  3. Psalm 17:7 Or love, You who save with Your right hand those seeking refuge from adversaries
  4. Psalm 17:9 Lit from the presence of
  5. Psalm 17:9 Or who plunder me
  6. Psalm 17:10 Lit have closed up their fat
  7. Psalm 17:11 Vg; one Hb ms, LXX read They cast me out; MT reads Our steps
  8. Psalm 17:11 Lit They set their eyes
  9. Psalm 17:12 Lit He is
  10. Psalm 17:15 Lit form

A Davidic Prayer.

A Cry for Justice

17 Lord, hear my just plea!
    Pay attention to my cry!
Listen to my prayer,
    since it does not come from lying lips.
Justice for me will come from your presence;
    your eyes see what is right.

When you probe my heart,
    and examine me at night;
when you refine me,
    you will find nothing wrong,[a]
        for I have determined that I will not transgress with my mouth.
As for the ways of mankind,
    I have, according to the words of your lips,
        avoided the ways of the violent.
Because my steps have held fast to your paths,
    my footsteps have not faltered.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, God.
    Listen closely to me
        and hear my prayer.
Show forth your gracious love,
    save those who take refuge in you
        from those who rebel against your sovereign power.[b]

Protect me as the most precious part of the eye;[c]
    hide me under the shadow of your wings
from the wicked[d] who have afflicted me,
    from my enemies who have surrounded me.
10 They are imprisoned by their own prosperity,[e]
    they have boasted proudly with their mouth.
11 Now they have encircled our paths[f]
    and are determined[g] to cast us down to the ground.
12 Like a lion they desire to rip us to pieces,
    like a young lion waiting in ambush.

13 Arise, Lord,
    confront them,
        bring them to their knees!
Deliver me from the wicked by your sword—
14 from men, Lord, by your hand—
from men who belong to this world,
    whose reward is only[h] in this[i] life.

But as for your treasured ones,
    may their stomachs be full,
may their children have an abundance,
    and may they leave wealth to their offspring.

15 But as for me, justified, I will behold your face;
    when I awake, your presence[j] will satisfy me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:3 The Heb. lacks wrong
  2. Psalm 17:7 Lit. against your right hand
  3. Psalm 17:8 Lit. as the pupil of the daughter of the eye
  4. Psalm 17:9 Lit. face of the wicked
  5. Psalm 17:10 Lit. fat
  6. Psalm 17:11 So MT; DSS 11QPsc LXX read have expelled me
  7. Psalm 17:11 Lit. and have set their eyes
  8. Psalm 17:14 The Heb. lacks only
  9. Psalm 17:14 So MT; DSS 11QPsc LXX read their
  10. Psalm 17:15 Lit. form, likeness