Psalm 17:13
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,
What does Psalm 17:13 mean?
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.