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Prayer for Vindication and Protection

A prayer of David.[a]

17 O Yahweh, hear a just cause.
Hear my cry; heed my prayer
I make without deceitful lips.
Let my vindication come forth from you;
let your eyes see fairness.
You 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.
As for the works of humankind,
by the word of your lips,
I have kept from the ways of the violent.
I have held my steps in your path
My feet will not slip.
As for me, I have called on you
because you will answer me, O God.
Incline your ear to me.
Hear my words.[b]
Show wondrously your acts of loyal love,
O Savior of those who take refuge
at your right hand[c]
from those who rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.[d]
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the presence[e] of the wicked who destroy me,
those enemies against my life,
they that surround me.
10 They have shut off their calloused[f] heart;
with their mouth they speak arrogantly.
11 Now they surround us at our every step.
They intend[g]
to pin[h] me to the ground.
12 He is like[i] a lion; he longs to tear apart,
and like a strong lion crouching in hiding places.
13 Rise up, O Yahweh, confront him.[j]
Make him bow down.
Rescue with your sword my life from the wicked,
14 from men by your hand, O Yahweh, from men of this world.
Their share is in this life,[k] and you fill their stomach with your treasure.
They are satisfied with children.
They bequeath their excess to their children.
15 By contrast, I in righteousness shall see your face.
Upon awakening I will be satisfied seeing your form.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 17:6 Hebrew “word”
  3. Psalm 17:7 Or “saving by your right hand those”
  4. Psalm 17:8 Literally “the little man of the daughter of your eye”
  5. Psalm 17:9 Literally “face”
  6. Psalm 17:10 Or “fat”
  7. Psalm 17:11 Literally “set their eyes”
  8. Psalm 17:11 Literally “to stretch”
  9. Psalm 17:12 Literally “His image”
  10. Psalm 17:13 Literally “his face”
  11. Psalm 17:14 Literally “the life”