Psalms 17

1 A Prayer by David. Hear, LORD, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that does not go out of deceitful lips.

Hear the right, O LORD, attend to my cry, give ear to my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.

2 Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.

Let my sentence come forth from your presence; let your eyes behold the things that are equal.

3 You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.

You have proved my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me, and shall find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4 As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5 My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.

Hold up my goings in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.

I have called on you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear to me, and hear my speech.

7 Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.

Show your marvelous loving kindness, O you that save by your right hand them which put their trust in you from those that rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9 from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.

From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.

They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, LORD, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword:

14 from men by your hand, LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.

From men which are your hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly you fill with your hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.