< Psalms 17 >
1 A prayer of David. Listen, O Lord of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not [uttered] with deceitful lips.
Hear the right, O Yhwh, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my judgement come forth from your presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness.
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 You has proved mine heart; you have visited [me] by night; you have tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me: [I am purposed] that my mouth shall not speak [amiss].
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 As for the works of men, by the words of your lips I have guarded [myself from] hard ways.
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Direct my steps in your paths, that my steps slip not.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have cried, for you heard me, O God: incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Show the marvels of your mercies, you that save them that hope in you.
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist your right hand: you shall screen me by the covering of your wings,
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul.
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They have enclosed [themselves with] their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now cast me out and compassed me round about: they have set their eyes [so as] to bow them down to the ground.
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 They laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling in secret [places].
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, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: [draw] your sword,
Arise, O Yhwh, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14 because of the enemies of your hand: O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with your hidden [treasures]: they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant [of their possessions] to their babes.
From men which are thy hand, O Yhwh, from men of the world, which 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 But I shall appear in righteousness before your face: I shall be satisfied when your glory appears.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.