Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear [to] my prayer, without lips of deceit.

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 From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly.

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 Thou hast proved my heart, Thou hast inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.

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 to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;

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

5 To uphold my goings in Thy paths, My steps have not slidden.

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

6 I — I called Thee, for Thou dost answer me, O God, incline Thine 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 Separate wonderfully Thy kindness, O Saviour of the confiding, By Thy right hand, from withstanders.

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, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.

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

9 From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.

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

10 Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:

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

11 'Our steps now have compassed [him];' Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.

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

12 His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling 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, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Thy 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, Thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, their portion [is] in life, And [with] Thy hidden things Thou fillest their belly, They are satisfied [with] sons; And have left their abundance to their sucklings.

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 I — in righteousness, I see Thy face; I am satisfied, in awaking, [with] Thy 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.