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 to my cry, give ear to my prayer, that goeth not out of deceitful lips.

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

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

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 visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

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

Concerning the works of men, by 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.

Uphold my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

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

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thy ear to me, and 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 thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them who put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

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 under the shadow of thy wings,

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

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

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

They are inclosed 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,

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

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

Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were 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 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 men who are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, who have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, 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, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.