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Psalm 17-20
GOD’S WORD Translation
Psalm 17-20
GOD’S WORD Translation
A prayer by David.
17 Hear my plea for justice, O Lord.
Pay attention to my cry.
Open your ears to my prayer,
⌞which comes⌟ from lips free from deceit.
2 Let the verdict of my innocence come directly from you.
Let your eyes observe what is fair.
3 You have probed my heart.
You have confronted me at night.
You have tested me like silver,
but you found nothing wrong.
I have determined that my mouth will not sin.
4 I have avoided cruelty because of your word.
In spite of what others have done,
5 my steps have remained firmly in your paths.
My feet have not slipped.
6 I have called on you because you answer me, O God.
Turn your ear toward me.
Hear what I have to say.
7 Reveal your miraculous deeds of mercy,
O Savior of those who find refuge by your side
from those who attack them.
8 Guard me as if I were the pupil in your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
9 Hide me from wicked people who violently attack me,
from my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have shut out all feeling.
Their mouths have spoken arrogantly.
11 They have tracked me down.
They have surrounded me.
They have focused their attention on throwing me to the ground.
12 Each one of them is like a lion eager to tear ⌞its prey⌟ apart
and like a young lion crouching in hiding places.
13 Arise, O Lord; confront them!
Bring them to their knees!
With your sword rescue my life from wicked people.
14 With your power rescue me from mortals, O Lord,
from mortals who enjoy their inheritance only in this life.
You fill their bellies with your treasure.
Their children are satisfied ⌞with it⌟,
and they leave what remains to their children.
15 I will see your face when I am declared innocent.
When I wake up, I will be satisfied ⌞with seeing⌟ you.
For the choir director; by David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord when the Lord rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul. He said,
18 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my Savior,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the strength of my salvation,
my stronghold.
3 The Lord should be praised.
I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.
4 The ropes of death had become tangled around me.
The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.
5 The ropes of the grave had surrounded me.
The clutches of death had confronted me.
6 I called on the Lord in my distress.
I cried to my God for help.
He heard my voice from his temple,
and my cry for help reached his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and quaked.
Even the foundations of the mountains trembled.
They shook violently because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and a raging fire came out of his mouth.
Glowing coals flared up from it.
9 He spread apart the heavens
and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.
10 He rode on one of the angels [a] as he flew,
and he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made the darkness his hiding place,
the dark rain clouds his covering.
12 Out of the brightness in front of him,
those rain clouds passed by with hailstones and lightning.
13 The Lord thundered in the heavens.
The Most High made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered them.
He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion.
15 Then the ocean floor could be seen.
The foundations of the earth were laid bare
at your stern warning, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from high above and took hold of me.
He pulled me out of the raging water.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
because they were too strong for me.
18 On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me,
but the Lord came to my defense.
19 He brought me out to a wide-open place.
He rescued me because he was pleased with me.
20 The Lord rewarded me
because of my righteousness,
because my hands are clean.
He paid me back
21 because I have kept the ways of the Lord
and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,
22 because all his judgments are in front of me
and I have not turned away from his laws.
23 I was innocent as far as he was concerned.
I have kept myself from guilt.
24 The Lord paid me back
because of my righteousness,
because he can see that my hands are clean.
25 ⌞In dealing⌟ with faithful people you are faithful,
with innocent people you are innocent,
26 with pure people you are pure.
⌞In dealing⌟ with devious people you are clever.
27 You save humble people,
but you bring down a conceited look.
28 O Lord, you light my lamp.
My God turns my darkness into light.
29 With you I can attack a line of soldiers.
With my God I can break through barricades.
30 God’s way is perfect!
The promise of the Lord has proven to be true.
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
31 Who is God but the Lord?
Who is a rock except our God?
32 God arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like those of a deer
and gives me sure footing on high places.
34 He trains my hands for battle
so that my arms can bend an ⌞archer’s⌟ bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation.
Your right hand supports me.
Your gentleness makes me great.
36 You make a wide path for me to walk on
so that my feet do not slip.
37 I chased my enemies and caught up with them.
I did not return until I had ended their lives.
38 I wounded them so badly that they were unable to get up.
They fell under my feet.
39 You armed me with strength for battle.
You made my opponents bow at my feet.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them.
They cried out to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust blown by the wind.
I threw them out as though they were dirt on the streets.
43 You rescued me from my conflicts with the people.
You made me the leader of nations.
A people I did not know will serve me:
44 As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
Foreigners will cringe in front of me.
45 Foreigners will lose heart,
and they will tremble when they come out of their fortifications.
46 The Lord lives!
Thanks be to my rock!
May God my Savior be honored.
47 God gives me vengeance!
He brings people under my authority.
48 He saves me from my enemies.
You lift me up above my opponents.
You rescue me from violent people.
49 That is why I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the nations
and make music to praise your name.
50 He gives great victories to his king.
He shows mercy to his anointed,
to David, and to his descendant [b] forever.
For the choir director; a psalm by David.
19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky displays what his hands have made.
2 One day tells a story to the next.
One night shares knowledge with the next
3 without talking,
without words,
without their voices being heard.
4 ⌞Yet,⌟ their sound has gone out into the entire world,
their message to the ends of the earth.
He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun,
5 which comes out of its chamber like a bridegroom.
Like a champion, it is eager to run its course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens.
It circles around to the other.
Nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The teachings of the Lord are perfect.
They renew the soul.
The testimony of the Lord is dependable.
It makes gullible people wise.
8 The instructions of the Lord are correct.
They make the heart rejoice.
The command of the Lord is radiant.
It makes the eyes shine.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure.
It endures forever.
The decisions of the Lord are true.
They are completely fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb.
11 As your servant I am warned by them.
There is a great reward in following them.
12 Who can notice every mistake?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep me from sinning.
Do not let anyone gain control over me.
Then I will be blameless,
and I will be free from any great offense.
14 May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my defender.
For the choir director; a psalm by David.
20 The Lord will answer you in times of trouble.
The name of the God of Jacob will protect you.
2 He will send you help from his holy place
and support you from Zion.
3 He will remember all your grain offerings
and look with favor on your burnt offerings. Selah
4 He will give you your heart’s desire
and carry out all your plans.
5 We will joyfully sing about your victory.
We will wave our flags in the name of our God.
The Lord will fulfill all your requests.
6 Now I know that the Lord will give victory to his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty deeds of his powerful hand.
7 Some ⌞rely⌟ on chariots and others on horses,
but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They will sink to their knees and fall,
but we will rise and stand firm.
9 Give victory to the king, O Lord.
Answer us when we call.
Psalm 17-20
New International Version
Psalm 17-20
New International Version
Psalm 17
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me,(A) Lord, my plea is just;
listen to my cry.(B)
Hear(C) my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.(D)
2 Let my vindication(E) come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.(F)
3 Though you probe my heart,(G)
though you examine me at night and test me,(H)
you will find that I have planned no evil;(I)
my mouth has not transgressed.(J)
4 Though people tried to bribe me,
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
through what your lips have commanded.
5 My steps have held to your paths;(K)
my feet have not stumbled.(L)
6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;(M)
turn your ear to me(N) and hear my prayer.(O)
7 Show me the wonders of your great love,(P)
you who save by your right hand(Q)
those who take refuge(R) in you from their foes.
8 Keep me(S) as the apple of your eye;(T)
hide me(U) in the shadow of your wings(V)
9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.(W)
10 They close up their callous hearts,(X)
and their mouths speak with arrogance.(Y)
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,(Z)
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion(AA) hungry for prey,(AB)
like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
13 Rise up,(AC) Lord, confront them, bring them down;(AD)
with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
from those of this world(AE) whose reward is in this life.(AF)
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers(AG) for their little ones.
15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake,(AH) I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.(AI)
Psalm 18[a](AJ)
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
1 I love you, Lord, my strength.(AK)
2 The Lord is my rock,(AL) my fortress(AM) and my deliverer;(AN)
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(AO)
my shield[b](AP) and the horn[c] of my salvation,(AQ) my stronghold.
3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,(AR)
and I have been saved from my enemies.(AS)
4 The cords of death(AT) entangled me;
the torrents(AU) of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death(AV) confronted me.
6 In my distress(AW) I called to the Lord;(AX)
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;(AY)
my cry came(AZ) before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled(BA) and quaked,(BB)
and the foundations of the mountains shook;(BC)
they trembled because he was angry.(BD)
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;(BE)
consuming fire(BF) came from his mouth,
burning coals(BG) blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;(BH)
dark clouds(BI) were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim(BJ) and flew;
he soared(BK) on the wings of the wind.(BL)
11 He made darkness his covering,(BM) his canopy(BN) around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence(BO) clouds advanced,
with hailstones(BP) and bolts of lightning.(BQ)
13 The Lord thundered(BR) from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
14 He shot his arrows(BS) and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning(BT) he routed them.(BU)
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations(BV) of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke,(BW) Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.(BX)
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.(BY)
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,(BZ)
from my foes, who were too strong for me.(CA)
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,(CB)
but the Lord was my support.(CC)
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;(CD)
he rescued me because he delighted in me.(CE)
20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;(CF)
according to the cleanness of my hands(CG) he has rewarded me.(CH)
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;(CI)
I am not guilty of turning(CJ) from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;(CK)
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless(CL) before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,(CM)
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful(CN) you show yourself faithful,(CO)
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure(CP) you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.(CQ)
27 You save the humble(CR)
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.(CS)
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp(CT) burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.(CU)
29 With your help(CV) I can advance against a troop[e];
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect:(CW)
The Lord’s word is flawless;(CX)
he shields(CY) all who take refuge(CZ) in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?(DA)
And who is the Rock(DB) except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength(DC)
and keeps my way secure.(DD)
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;(DE)
he causes me to stand on the heights.(DF)
34 He trains my hands for battle;(DG)
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains(DH) me;
your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path(DI) for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.(DJ)
37 I pursued my enemies(DK) and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them(DL) so that they could not rise;(DM)
they fell beneath my feet.(DN)
39 You armed me with strength(DO) for battle;
you humbled my adversaries(DP) before me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs(DQ) in flight,
and I destroyed(DR) my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them(DS)—
to the Lord, but he did not answer.(DT)
42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust;(DU)
I trampled them[f] like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations.(DV)
People I did not know(DW) now serve me,
44 foreigners(DX) cower before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
45 They all lose heart;(DY)
they come trembling(DZ) from their strongholds.(EA)
46 The Lord lives!(EB) Praise be to my Rock!(EC)
Exalted be God(ED) my Savior!(EE)
47 He is the God who avenges(EF) me,
who subdues nations(EG) under me,
48 who saves(EH) me from my enemies.(EI)
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man(EJ) you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;(EK)
I will sing(EL) the praises of your name.(EM)
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing love to his anointed,(EN)
to David(EO) and to his descendants forever.(EP)
Psalm 19[g]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens(EQ) declare(ER) the glory of God;(ES)
the skies(ET) proclaim the work of his hands.(EU)
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.(EV)
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[h] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.(EW)
In the heavens God has pitched a tent(EX) for the sun.(EY)
5 It is like a bridegroom(EZ) coming out of his chamber,(FA)
like a champion(FB) rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens(FC)
and makes its circuit to the other;(FD)
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the Lord(FE) is perfect,(FF)
refreshing the soul.(FG)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(FH)
making wise the simple.(FI)
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,(FJ)
giving joy(FK) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.(FL)
9 The fear of the Lord(FM) is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.(FN)
10 They are more precious than gold,(FO)
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,(FP)
than honey from the honeycomb.(FQ)
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.(FR)
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;(FS)
may they not rule over me.(FT)
Then I will be blameless,(FU)
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing(FV) in your sight,
Lord, my Rock(FW) and my Redeemer.(FX)
Psalm 20[i]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(FY)
may the name of the God of Jacob(FZ) protect you.(GA)
2 May he send you help(GB) from the sanctuary(GC)
and grant you support(GD) from Zion.(GE)
3 May he remember(GF) all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.[j](GG)
4 May he give you the desire of your heart(GH)
and make all your plans succeed.(GI)
5 May we shout for joy(GJ) over your victory
and lift up our banners(GK) in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.(GL)
6 Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(GM)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.(GN)
7 Some trust in chariots(GO) and some in horses,(GP)
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(GQ)
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,(GR)
but we rise up(GS) and stand firm.(GT)
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us(GU) when we call!
Footnotes
- Psalm 18:1 In Hebrew texts 18:1-50 is numbered 18:2-51.
- Psalm 18:2 Or sovereign
- Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.
- Psalm 18:13 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Samuel 22:14); most Hebrew manuscripts resounded, / amid hailstones and bolts of lightning
- Psalm 18:29 Or can run through a barricade
- Psalm 18:42 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac and Targum (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); Masoretic Text I poured them out
- Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
- Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line
- Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
- Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
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