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Psalm 17

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Prayer of David.

Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
    give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
From you let my vindication come;
    let your eyes see the right.

If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
    if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
    my mouth does not transgress.(A)
As for what others do, by the word of your lips
    I have avoided the ways of the violent.(B)
My steps have held fast to your paths;
    my feet have not slipped.(C)

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    incline your ear to me; hear my words.(D)
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
    O savior of those who seek refuge
    from their adversaries at your right hand.(E)

Guard me as the apple of the eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings,(F)
from the wicked who despoil me,
    my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity;
    with their mouths they speak arrogantly.(G)
11 They flush me out;[a] now they surround me;
    they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion eager to tear,
    like a young lion lurking in ambush.(H)

13 Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
    By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,(I)
14 from mortals—by your hand, O Lord
    from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
    may their children have more than enough;
    may they leave something over to their little ones.(J)

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
    when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.(K)

Footnotes

  1. 17.11 Q ms Gk: MT Our steps

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