Psalms 17

1 [A Prayer by David.] Hear, Jehovah, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn't go out of deceitful lips.

Yahweh, listen to me while I plead with you to act justly toward me. Hear me while I call out to you to help me. Pay attention to what I say while I pray because I am speaking [MTY] honestly/truthfully.

2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.

You are the one who is able to declare that I (am innocent/have not done anything that was wrong) because you see/know that I am telling the truth.

3 You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.

You know what I think, [even] at night; you have examined what I say and do, and you know that I have determined to never tell any lies.

4 As for the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

I have not done like others do; I have always done what is right [IDM], and I have not acted cruelly toward others.

5 My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.

I have always done what you told me to do [IDM], I have (never failed to do/always done) [LIT] those things.

6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.

O God, I pray to you because you answer me; please listen [MTY] to what I am saying.

7 Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.

Show me that you faithfully love me. By your great power [MTY] rescue those who (run to/trust in) you to protect them from their enemies.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

Protect me as people carefully protect their own eyes; protect me like [birds] protect [their babies] under their wings [MET].

9 from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.

Do not allow wicked people to attack me; my enemies surround me, wanting to kill me.

10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.

They never pity [IDM] anyone, and they are always boasting.

11 They have tracked me down; suddenly they surround me. They watch closely, crouching down to the ground.

They have hunted/searched for me and found me. They surround me, watching for an opportunity to throw me to the ground.

12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

They are like lions [SIM] that are ready to tear apart the animals that they capture; they are like young lions that are hiding, waiting to pounce [on their prey].

13 Arise, Jehovah, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;

Yahweh, come and (oppose/fight against) my enemies and defeat them! Use your sword to save me from those wicked people!

14 from men with your hand, Jehovah, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure. They are satisfied with children, and they leave their wealth to their little ones.

Yahweh, by your power [MTY] rescue me from those people who are interested [only] in things here in this world. But you provide plenty of food for those whom you love dearly; their children also have many things that their grandchildren will inherit.

15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

Yahweh, because I act righteously, I will [some day] see you [SYN]. When I awake, I will see you face-to-face, and then I will be happy.