Psalms17:13
Next VerseTranslation
Arise YHVH, confront him,
Go to footnote numbermake him bow down;
Go to footnote numberdeliver my life from the wicked with your sword,
Go to footnote numberParaphrase
Please stop being passive and rouse yourself to action, Oh ETERNAL AND PERSONAL GOD, get in his face, force him to submit to you; use your power to deliver my life from evil men,
Footnotes
1
This verb usually means “to be in front of, to meet, to go before.” It usually has positive connotations, but in this case the context calls for something negative, thus “confront” seems to fit well.
2
This verb means “to bow down, to kneel or to sink down,” but the verb form used here means “to cause to sink low,” or possibly “to cause to bow down in death.”
3
The sword is definitely a reference to death. David will not take their life himself, but he is asking God to bring them to an early death.
Verses 13 and 14 belong together
The verb “deliver” carries over into verse 14. Thus I am convinced that verse 14 is talking about the same people as verse 13 – the wicked because it is a continuation of verse 13.
Verse 13 ends “deliver my life from the wicked with your sword”
Vs. 14 starts “from men with your hand…”
I mention this because there is sometimes some confusion as to what direction to take verse 14.