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 Jehovah, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear [to] my prayer, without lips of deceit.

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

From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly.

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 inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.

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

As to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;

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

To uphold my goings in Thy paths, My steps have not slidden.

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

I — I called Thee, for Thou dost answer me, O God, incline Thine ear to 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.

Separate wonderfully Thy kindness, O Saviour of the confiding, By Thy right hand, from withstanders.

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

Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.

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

From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.

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

Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:

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

'Our steps now have compassed [him];' Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.

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

His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.

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

Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, 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, Thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, their portion [is] in life, And [with] Thy hidden things Thou fillest their belly, They are satisfied [with] sons; And have left their abundance to their sucklings.

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

I — in righteousness, I see Thy face; I am satisfied, in awaking, [with] Thy form!