Psalms
Chapter
Psalms is a collection of poems written over a long period of time by various authors. They express the heart of humanity in all generations through a variety of religious experiences. Originally the poems were chanted or sung to the accompaniment of a stringed instrument. One of the characteristics of this Hebrew poetry is parallelism; that is, the second line reiterates the idea of the first line.
Psalm 17
17:1 A prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
17:2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
17:5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
17:7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
17:10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
17:11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
17:12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
17:14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.