Hear Me!

¹Listen to me, Lord.

Hear the passionate prayer of this honest man.

My cause is just and my need is real.

I’ve done what’s right and my lips speak truth.

²Examine and exonerate me.

Vindicate me and show the world I’m innocent.

³For in a visitation of the night

you inspected my heart and refined my soul in fire

until nothing vile was found in me.

I will not sin with my words.

⁴Following your word has kept me from wrong.

Your ways have molded my footsteps, keeping me

from going down the paths of the violent.

⁵My steps follow in the tracks of your chariot wheels,

always staying in their path,

never straying from your way.

⁶You will answer me, God; I know you always will.

Hear my words like you always do as you listen to my every prayer.

Hide Me!

⁷Magnify the marvels of your mercy to all who seek you.[#17:7 As translated from the Septuagint.]

You are the loving Savior of all who turn aside

to hide themselves in you.

⁸Protect me from harm;

keep an eye on me as you would a child

who is reflected in the twinkling of your eye.

Yes, hide me within the shelter of your embrace,

under your outstretched wings.

⁹Protect me there from all my foes.

For there are many who surround my soul

to completely destroy me.

¹⁰They are pitiless, heartless—hard as nails,

swollen with pride and filled with arrogance!

¹¹See how they close in on me,

waiting for the chance to throw me to the ground.

¹²They’re like lions eager to tear me apart,

like young and fearless lions lurking in secret,

so ferocious and cruel—ready to rip me to shreds.

Help Me!

¹³Arise, God, and confront them!

Challenge them with your might!

Free me from their clutches and rescue me from their rage.

¹⁴Throw them down to the ground,

those who live for only this life on earth.

Thrust them out of their prosperity

and into their portion in eternity,

leaving their wealth and wickedness behind!

¹⁵As for me, because I am innocent, I will see your face[#17:15 The Hebrew word for “see,” chaza , means “to see a vision.”]

until I see you for who you really are.

I will be satisfied in an awakening of your likeness in me !