1 ARST Yahweh, listen to me while I plead with you to act justly toward me. Hear me while I call out to you to help me. Pay attention to what I say while I pray because I am speaking honestly. BSB BSB: A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit.
2 ARST You are the one who is able to declare that I am innocent; please agree to do what is right for me. BSB BSB: May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.
3 ARST If you come to me at night to learn what I think, if you see what I think in my heart, you will know that I have determined to never tell any lies; you will find that I do not think evil things. BSB BSB: You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
4 ARST I have not acted like those who do not honor you; I have always acted in the power of what you have instructed me; I have not acted like those who do not know your law. BSB BSB: As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 ARST I have always done what you told me to do; I have never failed to do those things. BSB BSB: My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 ARST O God, I am praying to you because you answer me; please listen to what I am saying. BSB BSB: I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.
7 ARST Continue to show me your love as you promised you would do. By your great power you protect all who trust in you; you keep them safe from their enemies. BSB BSB: Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.
8 ARST Protect me as carefully as people protect their own eyes; protect me like birds protect their babies under their wings. BSB BSB: Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9 ARST Do not allow wicked people to attack me, those enemies of mine who surround, wanting to kill me. BSB BSB: from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10 ARST They are proud of their riches and success, but they have no mercy on anyone. BSB BSB: They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
11 ARST They have hunted for me and found me. They surround me, watching for an opportunity to throw me to the ground and kill me. BSB BSB: They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,
12 ARST They are like lions that are ready to tear apart the animals that they capture; They are like young lions that are hiding, waiting to jump on their prey. BSB BSB: like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 ARST Yahweh, arise, attack my enemies, and defeat them! With your sword save me from those wicked people! BSB BSB: Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
14 ARST Yahweh, by your power rescue me from those people who are interested only in things here in this world. But you provide plenty of food for those whom you love dearly; their children also have many things that their grandchildren will inherit. BSB BSB: from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.
15 ARST Yahweh, because I act in the right way, I will be with you one day. When I awake after I die, I will see you face to face, and then I will be happy. BSB BSB: As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.