Psalm 16–17

A Prayer of Confidence^w

16 Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety.

²I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

all the good things I have come from you.”

³How excellent are the Lord’s faithful people!

My greatest pleasure is to be with them.

⁴Those who rush to other gods

bring many troubles on themselves.^x I will not take part in their sacrifices;

I will not worship their gods.

⁵You, Lord, are all I have,

and you give me all I need;

my future is in your hands.

⁶How wonderful are your gifts to me;

how good they are!

⁷I praise the Lord, because he guides me,

and in the night my conscience warns me.

^8*I am always aware of the Lord’s presence;

he is near, and nothing can shake me.

^9*And so I am thankful and glad,

and I feel completely secure,

^10*because you protect me from the power of death.

I have served you faithfully,

and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.

^11*You will show me the path that leads to life;

your presence fills me with joy

and brings me pleasure for ever.

The Prayer of an Innocent Man^y

17 Listen, O Lord, to my plea for justice;

pay attention to my cry for help!

Listen to my honest prayer.

²You will judge in my favour,

because you know what is right.

³You know my heart.

You have come to me at night;

you have examined me completely

and found no evil desire in me.

⁴I speak no evil as others do;

I have obeyed your command

and have not followed paths of violence.

⁵I have always walked in your way

and have never strayed from it.

⁶I pray to you, O God, because you answer me;

so turn to me and listen to my words.

⁷Reveal your wonderful love and save me;

at your side I am safe from my enemies.

⁸Protect me as you would your very eyes;

hide me in the shadow of your wings

⁹from the attacks of the wicked.

Deadly enemies surround me;

¹⁰they have no pity and speak proudly.

¹¹They are round me now, wherever I turn,

watching for a chance to pull me down.

¹²They are like lions, waiting for me,

wanting to tear me to pieces.

¹³Come, Lord! Oppose my enemies and defeat them!

Save me from the wicked by your sword;

¹⁴save me from those who in this life have all they want.

Punish them with the sufferings you have stored up for them;

may there be enough for their children

and some left over for their children’s children!

¹⁵But I will see you, because I have done no wrong;

and when I awake, your presence will fill me with joy.