Hear My Righteous Plea 1 UST A prayer of David 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 UST May you declare that I am innocent; may you decide what is right. BSB BSB: May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.
3 UST You know what I think,{ even} during the night. You have examined me and not found anything that grieves you. I have determined that I will not sin by what I say. 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 UST Regarding the actions of people, according to what you have commanded, I have carefully avoided living a violent life. BSB BSB: As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 UST I have carefully obeyed what you told me to do; I have not failed to do those things. BSB BSB: My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 UST O God, I am praying to you because I know that you will 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 UST Wonderfully show how you faithfully love me; you who rescue with your great power the people who trust you to protect them 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 UST Protect me as carefully as people protect their own eyes; protect me like mother 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 UST Do not allow wicked people to attack me, those enemies of mine who surround me, wanting to kill me. BSB BSB: from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10 UST They never pity anyone, and they are always speaking boastfully. BSB BSB: They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
11 UST They have searched for me and found me. They surround me, watching for an opportunity to attack 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 UST These wicked people are like lions that are ready to tear{ apart their prey}. They are like young lions that are hiding, waiting{ to pounce on their prey}. BSB BSB: like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 UST Yahweh, come and oppose my enemies and make them fall to the ground when you defeat them! Take violent action and deliver me from wicked men! BSB BSB: Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
14 UST Yahweh, by your power rescue me from those people who are interested{ only} in things here in this world. You provide them with many good things. They have many children and{ when they die,} they leave their wealth to their descendants. 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 UST { Yahweh}, because I act in the right way, I will see you. When I wake up I will see you, 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.