A Prayer for Justice
Study note
David asks God to hear his honest prayer. He invites God to test his heart and declares that he has kept himself from the ways of the violent.
1 Lord, listen to my cause — it is a just one. Pay attention to my cry. Open your ears to my prayer, because what I'm saying comes from an honest heart. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let the final word come from you. Let your eyes look closely and see what is fair. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 You have searched my heart inside and out. You have come to me in the night and tested me thoroughly, and you have found nothing wrong. I have made up my mind — my mouth will not sin. 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.
4 When it comes to what other people do, I have followed what you said and stayed far away from violent paths. Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 My feet have walked steadily along your trails. I have not stumbled or slipped off your paths. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
A Plea for Protection
Study note
David calls on God to show his wonderful love and protect him like the apple of his eye. His deadly enemies surround him like lions.
6 I am calling on you, God, because I know you will answer me. Lean in close and listen to what I'm saying. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Show the wonder of your faithful love. You save with your powerful right hand everyone who runs to you for safety from their enemies. 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.
8 Watch over me as carefully as you would protect the center of your own eye. Tuck me under the shadow of your wings Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 Keep me away from the wicked who attack me. Keep me from the deadly enemies who close in on every side. From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They have locked away every trace of compassion. The words coming out of their mouths are full of pride. They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have tracked me down and now they circle me. Their eyes are fixed on throwing me to the ground. They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Each one is like a lion craving something to tear apart — like a young lion hiding, waiting to pounce. Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Satisfied in God's Presence
Study note
David asks God to confront the wicked. He contrasts those whose reward is only in this life with his own hope of seeing God's face and being fully satisfied.
13 Get up, Lord! Go and confront them — bring them to their knees. Use your sword to pull my life free from the wicked. Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14 From men which are your hand, O LORD, from men of the world, who have their portion in this life, and whose belly you fill with your hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. 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.
15 But my reward is different — I will see your face because I have lived right. When I open my eyes, what will truly satisfy me is seeing you as you truly are. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.