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
In the Shadow of Your Wings
A #[Ps. 86, title; 142, title]Prayer of David.
1Hear a just cause, O Lord; #Ps. 142:6; [Ps. 61:1; Jer. 7:16]attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2From your presence #[Ps. 26:1]let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
3You have #See Job 23:10 tried my heart, you have #Job 31:14 visited me by #Ps. 16:7; [Job 33:15] night,
you have #Judg. 7:4; Zech. 13:9; 1 Pet. 1:7; [Ps. 139:1; Mal. 3:2, 3]tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5My steps have #Job 23:11; [Ps. 44:18]held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6I #Ps. 86:6, 7; 116:1, 2 call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
# See Ps. 31:2 incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 #
Ps. 31:21 Wondrously show#17:7 Or Distinguish me by your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from #Ps. 44:5; 59:1; 139:21their adversaries at your right hand.
8Keep me as #Deut. 32:10; Zech. 2:8 the apple of your eye;
hide me in #Ps. 36:7; 57:1; 63:7; 91:4; [Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34]; See Ruth 2:12the shadow of your wings,
9from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who #[1 Sam. 23:26]surround me.
10 # [Ps. 119:70] They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they #Ps. 31:18; 1 Sam. 2:3speak arrogantly.
11They have now surrounded our #[Ps. 89:51] steps;
they set their eyes to #Ps. 62:4cast us to the ground.
12He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion #[Ps. 10:8, 9]lurking in ambush.
13Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14from men by your hand, O Lord,
from #[Ps. 10:18; Luke 16:8; 20:34] men of the world whose #Matt. 6:2, 5, 16; Luke 16:25 portion is in this life.#17:14 Or from men whose portion in life is of the world
You fill their womb with treasure;#17:14 Or As for your treasured ones, you fill their womb
they are satisfied with #[Job 21:11]children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.
15As for me, I shall #Job 33:26; 1 John 3:2; [Ps. 11:7] behold your face in righteousness;
when I #Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2 awake, I shall be #[Ps. 16:11]satisfied with your likeness.
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