Psalm 17
The full text of Psalm 17 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Hebrew. Free to read.
A prayer of David.
1 Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2 From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
you have tested me, and you find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 As for the deeds of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our steps;
they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
12 He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Arise, O LORD! Confront him, bring him down!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O LORD,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their belly with your treasure;
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.
15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
Translation notes (5)
- Psalm 17:8a The Hebrew phrase 'ishon bat-ayin literally means "the little man, daughter of the eye," referring to the pupil, which is precious and guarded.
- Psalm 17:10a The Hebrew reads chelbamo sagru (חֶלְבָּמוֹ סָגְרוּ), literally 'they have closed their fat'. In Hebrew idiom fat signifies gross insensitivity, the callousness of prosperous people whose inner life has grown thick and unfeeling (compare Psalm 119:70). The rendering 'close their hearts to pity' conveys this figure in plain English.
- Psalm 17:12a Hebrew uses two lion terms: aryeh (אַרְיֵה), 'lion', and kephir (כְּפִיר), 'young lion', a beast in its hunting prime. The image of a lion crouching in cover to ambush prey, familiar from ancient Near Eastern royal hunt scenes, recurs as a figure for the predatory wicked in Psalm 10:9.
- Psalm 17:14a This is a difficult verse; it suggests that the wicked prosper only in this life, which contrasts with verse 15.
- Psalm 17:15a Hebrew behaqits, 'when I awake', is contested: some understand a literal morning awakening, perhaps after a night in the sanctuary, while others hear an early intimation of resurrection hope. The word temunah (תְּמוּנָה), 'form' or 'likeness', is the term used of Moses beholding the form of the LORD in Numbers 12:8, suggesting a direct vision of God rather than a mere image.
About this translation
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