Psalms 17
17
1-2Listen while I build my case, God,
the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.
Show the world I’m innocent—
in your heart you know I am.
3Go ahead, examine me from inside out,
surprise me in the middle of the night—
You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.
My words don’t run loose.
4-5I’m not trying to get my way
in the world’s way.
I’m trying to get your way,
your Word’s way.
I’m staying on your trail;
I’m putting one foot
In front of the other.
I’m not giving up.
6-7I call to you, God, because I’m sure of an answer.
So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp!
Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;
take in your frightened children who
Are running from the neighborhood bullies
straight to you.
8-9Keep your eye on me;
hide me under your cool wing feathers
From the wicked who are out to get me,
from mortal enemies closing in.
10-14Their hearts are hard as nails,
their mouths blast hot air.
They are after me, nipping my heels,
determined to bring me down,
Lions ready to rip me apart,
young lions poised to pounce.
Up, God: beard them! break them!
By your sword, free me from their clutches;
Barehanded, God, break these mortals,
these flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today.
I’d like to see their bellies
swollen with famine food,
The weeds they’ve sown
harvested and baked into famine bread,
With second helpings for their children
and crusts for their babies to chew on.
15And me? I plan on looking
you full in the face. When I get up,
I’ll see your full stature
and live heaven on earth.
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Psalms 17: MSG
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
Psalms 17
17
Psalm 17
A prayer by David.
1Hear my plea for justice, O Lord.
Pay attention to my cry.
Open your ears to my prayer,
⌞which comes⌟ from lips free from deceit.
2Let the verdict of my innocence come directly from you.
Let your eyes observe what is fair.
3You have probed my heart.
You have confronted me at night.
You have tested me like silver,
but you found nothing wrong.
I have determined that my mouth will not sin.
4I have avoided cruelty because of your word.
In spite of what others have done,
5my steps have remained firmly in your paths.
My feet have not slipped.
6I have called on you because you answer me, O God.
Turn your ear toward me.
Hear what I have to say.
7Reveal your miraculous deeds of mercy,
O Savior of those who find refuge by your side
from those who attack them.
8Guard me as if I were the pupil in your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
9Hide me from wicked people who violently attack me,
from my deadly enemies who surround me.
10They have shut out all feeling.
Their mouths have spoken arrogantly.
11They have tracked me down.
They have surrounded me.
They have focused their attention on throwing me to the ground.
12Each one of them is like a lion eager to tear ⌞its prey⌟ apart
and like a young lion crouching in hiding places.
13Arise, O Lord; confront them!
Bring them to their knees!
With your sword rescue my life from wicked people.
14With your power rescue me from mortals, O Lord,
from mortals who enjoy their inheritance only in this life.
You fill their bellies with your treasure.
Their children are satisfied ⌞with it⌟,
and they leave what remains to their children.
15I will see your face when I am declared innocent.
When I wake up, I will be satisfied ⌞with seeing⌟ you.
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