Psalm 17
Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors
A Prayer of David.
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2 From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.
3 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)
4 As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.(B)
5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.(C)
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.(D)
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.(E)
8 Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,(F)
9 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
- 17.11Q ms Gk: MT Our steps
Cross references
- 17.3 : Job 23.10; Ps 26.2; 39.1; 66.10; Jer 50.20
- 17.4 : Prov 1.15
- 17.5 : Ps 18.36; 44.18
- 17.6 : Ps 86.7; 88.2
- 17.7 : Ps 20.6; 31.21
- 17.8 : Deut 32.10; Ps 36.7
- 17.10 : 1 Sam 2.3; Ps 31.18; 73.7
- 17.12 : Ps 7.2; 10.9
- 17.13 : Ps 7.12; 22.20; 73.18
- 17.14 : Job 21.11; Ps 73.3–7; Isa 2.7; Lk 16.8
- 17.15 : Ps 4.6, 7; 16.11; 1 Jn 3.2