< Psalms 17 >
1 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.
A Prayer of David. Hear, O Yahweh, the right, Attend to my loud cry, Give ear unto my prayer, on lips that would not deceive:
2 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.
From before thee, let my sentence come forth, Thine eyes, behold with equity.
3 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.
Thou hast tested my heart, hast made inspection by night, hast refined me until thou couldst find nothing, Had I devised evil, my mouth should not have transgressed:
4 I have not done like others do; I have always done what is right [IDM], and I have not acted cruelly toward others.
As for the workings of men, By the word of thy lips, have, I, taken heed of the paths of the violent one.
5 I have always done what you told me to do [IDM], I have (never failed to do/always done) [LIT] those things.
Thou hast held fast my goings on to thy ways, My footsteps have not been shaken:
6 O God, I pray to you because you answer me; please listen [MTY] to what I am saying.
I, have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O GOD, —Incline thine ear unto me, Hear thou my speech:
7 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.
Let thy lovingkindness be distinguished, thou Saviour of such as seek refuge from them who lift themselves up against thy right hand.
8 Protect me as people carefully protect their own eyes; protect me like [birds] protect [their babies] under their wings [MET].
Guard me, as the pupil of the eye, —Under the shadow of thy wings, wilt thou hide me:
9 Do not allow wicked people to attack me; my enemies surround me, wanting to kill me.
From the face of lawless ones who have treated me with violence, the foes of my soul, who come round against me:
10 They never pity [IDM] anyone, and they are always boasting.
Their own fat [heart], have they shut up, —With their mouth, have they spoken proudly.
11 They have hunted/searched for me and found me. They surround me, watching for an opportunity to throw me to the ground.
As for our own goings, now, have they surrounded us, —Their eyes, they fix, bending to the earth:
12 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].
His likeness, is as a lion, that longeth to rend, and as a young lion, lurking in secret places.
13 Yahweh, come and (oppose/fight against) my enemies and defeat them! Use your sword to save me from those wicked people!
Rise, Yahweh! Confront his face, Bring him down, Deliver my soul from the lawless one [who is] thy sword:
14 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.
From men [who are] thy hand, O Yahweh, From the men of this age, whose portion, is among the living, and, with thy treasure, thou fillest their bosom, —They must be satisfied with sons, And must leave their abundance to their children: —
15 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.
I, in righteousness, shall behold thy face, Shall be satisfied when awakened by a vision of thee.