Psalms 17
17
(A prayer by David.)
The Prayer of an Innocent Person
1I am innocent, Lord!
Won't you listen as I pray
and beg for help?
I am honest!
Please hear my prayer.
2Only you can say
that I am innocent,
because only your eyes
can see the truth.
3You know my heart,
and even during the night
you have tested me
and found me innocent.
I have made up my mind
never to tell a lie.
4I don't do like others.
I obey your teachings
and am not cruel.
5I have followed you,
without ever stumbling.
6I pray to you, God,
because you will help me.
Listen and answer my prayer!
7Show your wonderful love.
Your mighty arm protects those
who run to you for safety
from their enemies.
8Protect me as you would
your very own eyes;
hide me in the shadow
of your wings.
9Don't let my brutal enemies
attack from all sides
and kill me.
10They refuse to show mercy,
and they keep bragging.
11They have caught up with me!
My enemies are everywhere,
eagerly hoping to smear me
in the dirt.
12They are like hungry lions
hunting for food,
or like young lions
hiding in ambush.
13Do something, Lord!
Attack and defeat them.
Take your sword and save me
from those evil people.
14Use your powerful arm
and rescue me
from the hands of mere humans
whose world won't last.#17.14 Use … last: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
You provide food
for those you love.
Their children have plenty,
and their grandchildren
will have more than enough.
15I am innocent, Lord,
and I will see your face!
When I awake, all I want
is to see you as you are.
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Psalms 17: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Psalm 17
17
A Prayer of David.
1Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry,
Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing;
I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips
I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God:
Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee
From those that rise up against them.
8Keep me as the apple of the eye,
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9From the wicked that oppress me,
From my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10They are inclosed in their own fat:
With their mouth they speak proudly.
11They have now compassed us in our steps:
They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey,
And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down:
Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world,
Which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure:
They are full of children,
And leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
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