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 Lord, [the cause of] righteousness, attend unto my entreaty, give ear unto my prayer, coming from lips without deceit.

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.

Let from thy presence my sentence come forth; let thy eyes behold what is right.

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 proved my heart; thou hast thought of me in the night; thou hast refined me—thou couldst find nothing: my purpose doth not pass beyond [the words of] my mouth.

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

Among the deeds of men did I observe, by the word of thy lips, the paths of the dissolute.

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

My steps held firmly to thy tracks, [and] my footsteps did not slip.

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

I call on thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thy ear unto me, hear 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.

Show marvelously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest those who put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them] by thy right hand.

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

Keep me as the apple of the eye; conceal me under the shadow of thy wings,

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

From the wicked that despoil me, my enemies, who, to take my life, compass me about.

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

They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

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

On our steps they now encompass us: they direct their eyes to turn aside in the land.

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].

Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.

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

Arise, O Lord, prevent him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, 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 these men—thy hand—O Lord, from the men of this world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hidden treasure: they have children in plenty, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

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.

As for me, in righteousness shall I behold thy face: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with contemplating thy likeness.