Psalms 17:6-9

17:6 I call to you for you will answer me, O God.

Listen to me! ¹ 

Hear what I say! ² 

17:7 Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, ³ 

you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies. ⁴ 

17:8 Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! ⁵ 

Hide me in the shadow of your wings! ⁶ 

17:9 Protect me from ⁷  the wicked men who attack ⁸  me,

my enemies who crowd around me for the kill. ⁹ 

[17:6]  ¹ tn Heb “Turn your ear toward me.”

[17:6]  ² tn Heb “my word.”

[17:7]  ³ tn Heb “Set apart faithful acts.”

[17:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “[O] one who delivers those who seek shelter from the ones raising themselves up, by your right hand.” The Lord’s “right hand” here symbolizes his power to protect and deliver.

[17:8]  ⁵ tc Heb “Protect me like the pupil, a daughter of an eye.” The noun בַּת (bat, “daughter”) should probably be emended to בָּבַת (bavat, “pupil”). See Zech 2:12 HT (2:8 ET) and HALOT 107 s.v. *בָּבָה.

[17:8]  ⁶ sn Your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.

[17:9]  ⁷ tn Heb “from before”; or “because.” In the Hebrew text v. 9 is subordinated to v. 8. The words “protect me” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[17:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “destroy.” The psalmist uses the perfect verbal form to emphasize the degree of danger. He describes the wicked as being already in the process of destroying him.

[17:9]  ⁹ tn Heb “my enemies, at the risk of life they surround me.” The Hebrew phrase בְּנֶפֶשׁ (bÿnefesh) sometimes has the nuance “at the risk of [one’s] life” (see 1 Kgs 2:23; Prov 7:23; Lam 5:9).