Psalms 17 WBT
Summary: A prayer of innocence and plea for vindication, Psalm 17 asks God to test the psalmist's heart "by night" and find no wickedness in him (v. 3), while surrounding enemies "like a lion eager to tear" close in (v. 12). Its most memorable image asks God for intimate protection: "keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings" (v. 8). It ends by contrasting the fleeting satisfaction of worldly men with the psalmist's hope to be satisfied, "when I awake, with your likeness" (v. 15).
1A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend to my cry, give ear to my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips.
2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thy eyes behold the things that are equal.
3Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited [me] in the night; thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I have 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.
5Uphold my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not.
6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thy ear to me, [and hear] my speech.
7Show thy wonderful loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them who put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them].
8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shade of thy wings.
9From the wicked that oppress me, [from] my deadly enemies, [who] encompass me,
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, [who is] thy sword:
14From men [who are] thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [who 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 shall behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
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