Psalm 16–17

PSALM 16

The Lord the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.

A ^†Mikhtam of David.

^1aPreserve me, O God, for ^bI take refuge in You.

²¹I said to the Lord, “You are ²my Lord;

I ^ahave no good besides You.”

³As for the ^1asaints who are in the earth,

²They are the majestic ones ^bin whom is all my delight.

⁴The ^1asorrows of those who have ²bartered for another god will be multiplied;

I shall not pour out their drink offerings of ^bblood,

Nor will I ^ctake their names upon my lips.

⁵The Lord is the ^aportion of my inheritance and my ^bcup;

You support my ^clot.

⁶The ^alines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Indeed, my heritage is ^bbeautiful to me.

⁷I will bless the Lord who has ^acounseled me;

Indeed, my ^1bmind instructs me in the night.

^8aI have ^bset the Lord continually before me;

Because He is ^cat my right hand, ^dI will not be shaken.

⁹Therefore ^amy heart is glad and ^bmy glory rejoices;

My flesh also will ^cdwell securely.

¹⁰For You ^awill not abandon my soul to ¹Sheol;

Nor will You ^2ballow Your ³Holy One to ⁴undergo decay.

¹¹You will make known to me ^athe path of life;

In ^bYour presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are ^cpleasures forever.

PSALM 17

Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

A Prayer of David.

¹Hear a ^ajust cause, O Lord, ^bgive heed to my cry;

^cGive ear to my prayer, which is not from ^ddeceitful lips.

²Let ^amy ¹judgment come forth from Your presence;

Let Your eyes look with ^bequity.

³You have ^atried my heart;

You have visited me by night;

You have ^btested me and ^cYou find ¹nothing;

I have ^dpurposed that my mouth will not transgress.

⁴As for the deeds of men, ^aby the word of Your lips

I have kept from the ^bpaths of the violent.

⁵My ^asteps have held fast to Your ¹paths.

My ^bfeet have not slipped.

⁶I have ^acalled upon You, for You will answer me, O God;

^bIncline Your ear to me, hear my speech.

^7aWondrously show Your lovingkindness,

O ^bSavior of those who take refuge ¹at Your right hand

From those who rise up against them.

⁸Keep me as ¹the ^aapple of the eye;

Hide me ^bin the shadow of Your wings

⁹From the ^awicked who despoil me,

My ^bdeadly enemies who surround me.

¹⁰They have ^aclosed their ¹unfeeling heart,

With their mouth they ^bspeak proudly.

¹¹They have now ^asurrounded us in our steps;

They set their eyes ^bto cast us down to the ground.

¹²He is ^alike a lion that is eager to tear,

And as a young lion ^blurking in hiding places.

^13aArise, O Lord, confront him, ^bbring him low;

^cDeliver my soul from the wicked with ^dYour sword,

¹⁴From men with ^aYour hand, O Lord,

From men ¹of the world, ^bwhose portion is in this life,

And whose belly You ^cfill with Your treasure;

They are satisfied with children,

And leave their abundance to their babes.

¹⁵As for me, I shall ^abehold Your face in righteousness;

^bI will be satisfied ¹with Your ^clikeness when I awake.