Psalms 17
Prayer for Vindication and Protection
A prayer of David. ▼▼The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
1O Yahweh, hear a just cause.Hear my cry; heed my prayer
I make without deceitful lips.
2Let my vindication come forth from you;
let your eyes see fairness.
3You have tried my heart;
you have examined me by night;
you have tested me; you found nothing.
I have decided that my mouth will not transgress.
4As for the works of humankind,
by the word of your lips,
I have kept from the ways of the violent.
5I have held my steps in your path
My feet will not slip.
6As for me, I have called on you
because you will answer me, O God.
Incline your ear to me.
Hear my words. ▼
▼Hebrew “word”
7Show wondrously your acts of loyal love,
O Savior of those who take refuge
at your right hand ▼
▼Or “saving by your right hand those”
from those who rise up against them.
8Keep me as ⌞the apple of your eye⌟. ▼
▼Literally “the little man of the daughter of your eye”
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
9from the ⌞presence⌟ ▼
▼Literally “face”
of the wicked who destroy me,those enemies against my life,
they that surround me.
10They have shut off their calloused ▼
▼Or “fat”
heart;with their mouth they speak arrogantly.
11Now they surround us at our every step.
They ⌞intend⌟ ▼
▼Literally “set their eyes”
⌞to pin⌟ ▼
▼Literally “to stretch”
me to the ground. 12⌞He is like⌟ ▼
▼Literally “His image”
a lion; he longs to tear apart,and like a strong lion crouching in hiding places.
13Rise up, O Yahweh, confront ⌞him⌟. ▼
▼Literally “his face”
Make him bow down.
Rescue with your sword my life from the wicked,
14from men by your hand, O Yahweh, from men of this world.
Their share is in ⌞this life⌟, ▼
▼Literally “the life”
and you fill their stomach with your treasure.They are satisfied with children.
They bequeath their excess to their children.
15By contrast, I in righteousness shall see your face.
Upon awakening I will be satisfied seeing your form.
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