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, O Lord, [the cause of] righteousness, attend unto my entreaty, give ear unto my prayer, coming from lips without deceit.
2 May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.
Let from thy presence my sentence come forth; let thy eyes behold what is right.
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 proved my heart; thou hast thought of me in the night; thou hast refined me—thou couldst find nothing: my purpose doth not pass beyond [the words of] my mouth.
4 As for the deeds of men— by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
Among the deeds of men did I observe, by the word of thy lips, the paths of the dissolute.
5 My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.
My steps held firmly to thy tracks, [and] my footsteps did not slip.
6 I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.
I call on thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thy 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.
Show marvelously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest those who put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them] by thy right hand.
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; conceal me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
From the wicked that despoil me, my enemies, who, to take my life, compass me about.
10 They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
They are enclosed in their own fat: 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,
On our steps they now encompass us: they direct their eyes to turn aside in the land.
12 like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.
13 Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
Arise, O Lord, prevent him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, who is 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 these men—thy hand—O Lord, from the men of this world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hidden treasure: they have children in plenty, and leave the rest of their substance 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, in righteousness shall I behold thy face: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with contemplating thy likeness.
