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 psalm of David.” Hear the righteous cause, O LORD! Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit!
2 May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.
May my sentence come forth from thy presence; May thine eyes behold uprightness!
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.
Provest thou my heart, visitest thou me in the night, Triest thou me like gold, thou shalt find nothing!
4 As for the deeds of men— by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My thoughts do not vary from my lips. As to the deeds of men, Through the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.
Support my steps in thy paths, That my feet may not slip!
6 I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.
I call upon thee, O God! for thou wilt hear me; Incline thine ear to me, and listen to my prayer!
7 Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.
Show forth thy loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand Them that seek refuge in thee from their adversaries!
8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
Guard me as the apple of the eye; Hide me under the shadow of thy wings
9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
From the wicked who assault me, From my deadly enemies who compass me about!
10 They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
They shut up their hard heart; With their mouth they speak haughtily.
11 They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,
They encompass us in all our steps; They fix their eyes upon us, that they may cast us on the ground.
12 like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
They are like a lion, eager for his prey; 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! disappoint them, cast them down! Deliver me 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 life; whom thou loadest with thy treasure; Whose children have enough, and leave their superfluity to their children.
15 As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.
But I through righteousness shall see thy face; I shall be satisfied with the revival of thy countenance.
