Psalm 17:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

NIV: Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.

NASB: Arise, Lord, confront him, make him bow down; Save my soul from the wicked with Your sword,

CSB: Rise up, Lord! Confront him; bring him down. With your sword, save me from the wicked.

NLT: Arise, O Lord! Stand against them, and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!

KJV: Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

NKJV: Arise, O Lord, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,

In a rapid-fire series of requests, David urges the Lord to do four things. These are all part of his prayer for safety and security (Psalm 17:1, 8–9).

First, David asks the Lord to "arise." In Numbers 10:35 we learn that Moses offered a similar prayer when the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness: "And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, 'Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you." Asking the Lord to "arise" is a call for forceful action against the enemy.

Second, David asks the Lord to confront the enemy. "Confront" comes from a Hebrew phrase literally meaning prevent his face. It is an appeal for the Lord to meet David's enemy directly in battle.

Third, David asks the Lord to subdue this foe. Defeating Saul (1 Samuel 20:32–33) was not something David would choose to do himself. This was a matter for the Lord to handle. In fact, even when given the chance to kill Saul, David chose to show restraint, instead (1 Samuel 24:1–7; 26:4–12).

Fourth, David asks the Lord to deliver him from his wicked enemy. In Psalm 18:2 David calls Lord his rock, his fortress, and his deliverer. These ideas all involve God as a source of security and safety.

Psalm 17:13–15 closes the prayer as David asks the Lord to execute judgment on his enemy. He also echoes his earlier pleas for deliverance. David knows those who hate God have a bleak future, whereas he sees his future as glorious. He is confident he will behold God's face.

Likely written when Saul was pursuing David in the wilderness, this records David's urgent plea for deliverance. He insists that he is in the right and free from deceit or evil. He proclaims God as a Savior and asks God to heed his cry and reveal His steadfast love to him. David addresses God as the Savior of those who seek refuge in Him from their enemies. Verse 8 uses two famous phrases describing God's tender care and love: "apple of the eye" and "shadow of your wings." Using a singular noun, David compares his enemy, likely Saul, to a ferocious, stealthy, bloodthirsty lion. Through these struggles, David looks forward to a blessed eternity of beholding God's face.

This is another psalm in which David appeals to God to deliver him from his enemy, likely Saul (1 Samuel 20:32–33). It shares themes and even Hebrew phrases with Psalm 16. This is one of several psalms identified as direct prayers, along with psalms 86, 90, 102, and 142.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.