Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Lord, listen to my justice, attend to my supplication. Pay attention to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.

A Prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear [to] my prayer, without lips of deceit.

2 Let my judgment proceed from your presence. Let your eyes behold fairness.

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

3 You have tested my heart and visited it by night. You have examined me by fire, and iniquity has not been found in me.

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 Therefore, may my mouth not speak the works of men. I have kept to difficult ways because of the words of your lips.

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

5 Perfect my steps in your paths, so that my footsteps may not be disturbed.

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

6 I have cried out because you, O God, have listened to me. Incline your ear to me and heed my words.

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

7 Make your mercies wonderful, for you save those who hope in you.

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

8 From those who resist your right hand, preserve me like the pupil of your eye. Protect me under 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 face of the impious who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul.

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

10 They have concealed their fatness; their mouth has been speaking arrogantly.

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

11 They have cast me out, and now they have surrounded me. They have cast their eyes down to the earth.

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

12 They have taken me, like a lion ready for the prey, and like a young lion dwelling in hiding.

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

13 Rise up, O Lord, arrive before him and displace him. Deliver my soul from the impious one: your spear from the enemies of your hand.

Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Thy sword,

14 Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life. Their gut has been filled from your hidden stores. They have been filled with sons, and they have bequeathed to their little ones the remainder.

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 But as for me, I will appear before your sight in justice. I will be satisfied when your glory appears.

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