Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Lord, listen to my justice, attend to my supplication. Pay attention to my prayer, which is not from 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 judgment proceed from your presence. Let your eyes behold fairness.

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 tested my heart and visited it by night. You have examined me by fire, and iniquity has not been found in me.

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 Therefore, may my mouth not speak the works of men. I have kept to difficult ways because of the words of your lips.

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

5 Perfect my steps in your paths, so that my footsteps may not be disturbed.

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 cried out because you, O God, have listened to me. Incline your ear to me and heed my words.

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

7 Make your mercies wonderful, for you save those who hope in you.

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 From those who resist your right hand, preserve me like the pupil of your eye. Protect 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 face of the impious who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul.

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

10 They have concealed their fatness; their mouth has been speaking arrogantly.

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

11 They have cast me out, and now they have surrounded me. They have cast their eyes down to the earth.

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

12 They have taken me, like a lion ready for the prey, and like a young lion dwelling in hiding.

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 Rise up, O Lord, arrive before him and displace him. Deliver my soul from the impious one: your spear from the enemies of your hand.

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

14 Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life. Their gut has been filled from your hidden stores. They have been filled with sons, and they have bequeathed to their little ones the remainder.

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 But as for me, I will appear before your sight in justice. I will be satisfied when your glory appears.

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.