Psalms 17

1 A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it comes from lips free of deceit.

A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer from lips without deceit.

2 May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.

Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence; let Thine eyes behold equity.

3 You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

Thou hast tried my heart, Thou hast visited it in the night; Thou hast tested me, and Thou findest not that I had a thought which should not pass my mouth.

4 As for the deeds of men— by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

As for the doings of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.

My steps have held fast to Thy paths, my feet have not slipped.

6 I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

As for me, I call upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God; incline Thine ear unto me, hear my speech.

7 Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.

Make passing great Thy mercies, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand from assailants them that take refuge in Thee.

8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shadow of Thy wings,

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

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

10 They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.

Their gross heart they have shut tight, with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

At our every step they have now encompassed us; they set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

12 like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

He is like a lion that is eager to tear in pieces, and like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, by Thy sword;

14 from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

From men, by Thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly Thou fillest with Thy treasure; who have children in plenty, and leave their abundance to their babes.

15 As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.