from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
Parallel translations
- WEB from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
- KJV From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
- NKJV From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.
- NASB From the wicked who deal violently with me, My deadly enemies who surround me.
- NLT Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David seeks protection from the wicked and deadly enemies who surround him. It matters because God is the refuge of the faithful when they are besieged by foes.
Overview
David names the threat plainly: wicked oppressors and mortal enemies encircle him. He looks to God alone for shelter from their assault. Such reliance on God amid hostility foreshadows Christ, who entrusted himself to the Father while surrounded by enemies.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 35:7For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
- Ps 35:4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
- Ps 35:12They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.
- 1 Chr 17:9And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning
- Ps 7:5then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
- Ps 31:20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.
- 1 Sam 24:11See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 17:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.