USB ~ Psalms 17

17 | USCCB

Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors

1 A prayer of David. Hear, LORD, my plea for justice; pay heed to my cry; Listen to my prayer from lips without guile.

2 From you let my vindication come; your eyes see what is right.

3 You have tested my heart, searched it in the night. a You have tried me by fire, but find no malice in me. My mouth has not transgressed

4 as others often do. As your lips have instructed me, I have kept from the way of the lawless.

5 My steps have kept to your paths; my feet have not faltered. b

6 I call upon you; answer me, O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my speech.

7 Show your wonderful mercy, you who deliver with your right arm those who seek refuge from their foes.

8 †Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

9 from the wicked who despoil me. c

III My ravenous enemies press upon me; d

10 †they close their hearts, they fill their mouths with proud roaring.

11 Their steps even now encircle me; they watch closely, keeping low to the ground,

12 Like lions eager for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Rise, O LORD, confront and cast them down; rescue my soul from the wicked.

14 Slay them with your sword; with your hand, LORD, slay them; snatch them from the world in their prime. Their bellies are being filled with your friends; their children are satisfied too, for they share what is left with their young.

15 I am just—let me see your face; when I awake, let me be filled with your presence. e

Footnotes

†. Psalm 17 A lament of an individual unjustly attacked. Confident of being found innocent, the psalmist cries out for God’s just judgment (Ps 17:1-5) and requests divine help against enemies (Ps 17:6-9a). Those ravenous lions (Ps 17:9b-12) should be punished (Ps 17:13-14). The Psalm ends with a serene statement of praise (Ps 17:15). The Hebrew text of Ps 17:3-4, 14 is uncertain.

†. 17:8 Apple of your eye…shadow of your wings: images of God’s special care, cf. Dt 32:10; Prv 7:2; Is 49:2.

†. 17:10-12, 14 An extended metaphor: the enemies are lions.

17:3 Ps 26:2; 139:23.
17:5 Ps 18:36; Jb 23:11-12.
17:9-12 Ps 10:9; 22:14, 22; 35:17; 58:7; Jb 4:10-11.
17:9 Ps 36:8; 57:2; 61:5; 63:8; 91:4; Dt 32:10; Ru 2:12; Zec 2:12; Mt 23:37.
17:15 Ps 4:7; 31:17; 67:2; 80:4; Nm 6:25; Dn 9:17.