1Ein Gebet von David. Höre mich an, HERR, denn ich bitte um ein gerechtes Urteil![1] Achte auf mein Schreien! Schenk meinem Gebet ein offenes Ohr – über meine Lippen kommt keine Lüge!2Von dir geht mein Recht aus[2]; sieh mit eigenen Augen, wie aufrichtig ich bin[3]!3Du hast mein Herz geprüft, in der Nacht hast du erforscht, was in mir vorgeht; du hast mich ´wie Metall im Feuer` geläutert – und nichts ´Verwerfliches` an mir gefunden.[4] Ich habe über alles nachgedacht: Nichts Böses wird jemals über meine Lippen kommen!4Vom Tun und Treiben anderer Leute habe ich mich nicht beeinflussen lassen. Ich habe mich an dein Wort gehalten, und das hat mich vor bösen Wegen bewahrt.5Schritt für Schritt folgte ich deiner Spur und kam dabei nicht zu Fall.6Nun rufe ich zu dir, denn du erhörst mich, o Gott. Schenk mir ein offenes Ohr und höre auf mein Gebet!7In deiner reichen Gnade lass mich erneut Wunder erfahren, du Helfer und Retter für alle, die dir vertrauen und die bei dir Schutz suchen gegen ihre Widersacher![5]8Bewahre mich wie deinen Augapfel, birg mich im Schatten deiner Flügel9vor diesen Gottlosen, die mir Gewalt antun wollen, vor meinen Todfeinden[6], die mich umzingeln!10Sie haben ihr Herz verschlossen[7], ihre Worte sind stolz und anmaßend.11So eng hat der Feind uns umzingelt, dass wir keinen Schritt mehr ungehindert gehen können. Seine Absicht ist klar – er will uns alle niederstrecken.12Er gleicht einem Löwen, der gierig darauf wartet, Beute zu reißen – einem starken Junglöwen, der im Hinterhalt lauert.13Erhebe dich, HERR, komm ihm zuvor und wirf ihn nieder! Rette mich[8] mit deinem Schwert vor diesen gottlosen Verbrechern;14bewahre mich durch deine starke Hand vor den Menschen, HERR, die alles Begehrenswerte allein von dieser vergänglichen Welt erwarten. Doch sie rechnen nicht mit dem Unheil, das du für sie aufgespart hast! Noch füllst du ihren Bauch, selbst ihre Söhne werden satt und hinterlassen ihren Kindern, was übrig bleibt![9]15Ich aber werde dein Angesicht sehen, weil ich nach deinem Willen lebe.[10] Wenn ich erwache, darf ich mich satt sehen an deiner Gestalt[11].
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.
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. (Ri 7,4; Hi 23,10; Hi 31,14; Hi 33,15; Ps 16,7; Ps 139,1; Sach 13,9; Mal 3,2; 1Petr 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. (Hi 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, (5Mo 32,10; Rut 2,12; Ps 36,7; Ps 57,1; Ps 63,7; Ps 91,4; Sach 2,8; Mt 23,37; Lk 13,34)9from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. (1Sam 23,26)10They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. (1Sam 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. (Hi 21,11; Ps 10,18; Mt 6,2; Mt 6,5; Mt 6,16; Lk 16,8; Lk 16,25; Lk 20,34)15As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. (Hi 33,26; Ps 11,7; Ps 16,11; Jes 26,19; Dan 12,2; 1Joh 3,2)