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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

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

Hear me,(A) Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.(B)
Hear(C) my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.(D)
Let my vindication(E) come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.(F)

Though you probe my heart,(G)
    though you examine me at night and test me,(H)
you will find that I have planned no evil;(I)
    my mouth has not transgressed.(J)
Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
My steps have held to your paths;(K)
    my feet have not stumbled.(L)

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;(M)
    turn your ear to me(N) and hear my prayer.(O)
Show me the wonders of your great love,(P)
    you who save by your right hand(Q)
    those who take refuge(R) in you from their foes.
Keep me(S) as the apple of your eye;(T)
    hide me(U) in the shadow of your wings(V)
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.(W)

10 They close up their callous hearts,(X)
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.(Y)
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,(Z)
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion(AA) hungry for prey,(AB)
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

13 Rise up,(AC) Lord, confront them, bring them down;(AD)
    with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
    from those of this world(AE) whose reward is in this life.(AF)
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    and may there be leftovers(AG) for their little ones.

15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
    when I awake,(AH) I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.(AI)