1A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! (Ps 61:1; Ps 86:1; Ps 142:1; Ps 142:6; Jer 7:16)2From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! (Ps 26:1)3You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. (Jud 7:4; Job 23:10; Job 31:14; Job 33:15; Ps 16:7; Ps 139:1; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:2; 1Pe 1:7)4With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.5My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. (Job 23:11; Ps 44:18)6I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. (Ps 31:2; Ps 86:6; Ps 116:1)7Wondrously show[1] your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. (Ps 31:21; Ps 44:5; Ps 59:1; Ps 139:21)8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, (De 32:10; Ru 2:12; Ps 36:7; Ps 57:1; Ps 63:7; Ps 91:4; Zec 2:8; Mt 23:37; Lu 13:34)9from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. (1Sa 23:26)10They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. (1Sa 2:3; Ps 31:18; Ps 119:70)11They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. (Ps 62:4; Ps 89:51)12He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. (Ps 10:8)13Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,14from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life.[2] You fill their womb with treasure;[3] they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. (Job 21:11; Ps 10:18; Mt 6:2; Mt 6:5; Mt 6:16; Lu 16:8; Lu 16:25; Lu 20:34)15As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. (Job 33:26; Ps 11:7; Ps 16:11; Isa 26:19; Da 12:2; 1Jo 3:2)
Psalm 17
New International Version
A prayer of David.
1Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer – it does not rise from deceitful lips.2Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.3Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.4Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.5My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.6I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.7Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings9from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.10They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.11They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.12They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.13Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.14By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.15As for me, I shall be vindicated and shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
Psalm 17
King James Version
1A Prayer of David. Hear 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.
Psalm 17
New International Reader’s Version
A prayer of David.
1LORD, hear me, because I ask for what is right. Listen to my cry for help. Hear my prayer. It doesn’t come from lips that tell lies.2When you hand down your sentence, may it be in my favour. May your eyes see what is right.3Look deep down into my heart. Study me carefully at night and test me. You won’t find anything wrong. I have planned nothing evil. My mouth has not said sinful things.4Though evil people tried to pay me to do wrong, I have not done what they wanted. Instead I have done what you commanded.5My steps have stayed on your paths. My feet have not slipped.6My God, I call out to you because you will answer me. Listen to me. Hear my prayer.7Show me the wonders of your great love. By using your great power, you save those who go to you for safety from their enemies.8Take good care of me, just as you would take care of your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.9Save me from the sinful people who want to destroy me. Save me from my deadly enemies who are all around me.10They make their hearts hard and stubborn. Their mouths speak with pride.11They have tracked me down. They are all around me. Their eyes watch for a chance to throw me to the ground.12They are like a hungry lion, waiting to attack. They are like a powerful lion, hiding in the bushes.13LORD, rise up. Oppose them and bring them down. With your sword, save me from those evil people.14LORD, by your power save me from people like that. They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life. May what you have stored up for evil people fill their bellies. May their children’s stomachs be filled with it. And may there even be leftovers for their little ones.15You will show that I am right; I will enjoy your blessing. When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you.