Psalms 17:13-14

Context

17:13 Rise up, Lord!

Confront him!¹ Knock him down!²

Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man!³

17:14 Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers,⁴

from the murderers of this world!⁵

They enjoy prosperity;⁶

you overwhelm them with the riches they desire.⁷

They have many children,

and leave their wealth to their offspring.⁸

[17:13] ¹tn Heb “Be in front of his face.”

[17:13] ²tn Or “bring him to his knees.”

[17:13] ³tn Heb “rescue my life from the wicked [one] [by] your sword.”

[17:14] ⁴tc Heb “from men [by] your hand, Lord.” The translation assumes an emendation (both here and in the following line) of מִמְתִים (mimtim, “from men”) to מִמְמִתִים (mimmitim, “from those who kill”). For other uses of the plural form of the Hiphil participle of מוּת (mut, “die”), see 2 Kgs 17:26 (used with lions as subject), Job 33:22 (apparently referring to the agents of death), and Jer 26:15 (used of those seeking Jeremiah’s life).

[17:14] ⁵tn Heb “from men, from [the] world.” On the emendation of “men” to “murderers,” see the preceding note on the word “murderers.”

[17:14] ⁶tn Heb “their portion, in life.”

[17:14] ⁷tn Heb “and [with] your treasures you fill their belly.”

[17:14] ⁸tn Heb “they are satisfied [with] sons and leave their abundance to their children.”