Psalms 17:9

Protect me from ¹  the wicked men who attack ²  me, my enemies who crowd around me for the kill. ³ 

from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

From the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies who surround me.

Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me.

From the wicked who are out to get me, from mortal enemies closing in.

From the evil-doers who are violent to me, and from those who are round me, desiring my death.

from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.

From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.

Protect me from ¹  the wicked men who attack ²  me, my enemies who crowd around me for the kill. ³ 

¹ 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.

² 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.

³ 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).