< Psalms 17 >
1 A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, which is not out of feigned lips.
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.
2 Let my judgment come forth from thy presence, let thine eyes regard equity.
May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.
3 Thou hast proved my heart, thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me, thou hast found nothing: my thought goeth not beyond my word.
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.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent [man].
As for the deeds of men— by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 When thou holdest my goings in thy paths, my footsteps slip not.
My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou answerest me, O God. Incline thine ear unto me, hear my speech.
I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Shew wondrously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest by thy right hand them that trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them].
Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9 From the wicked that destroy me, my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10 They are enclosed in their own fat; with their mouth they speak proudly.
They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
11 They have now encompassed us in our steps; their eyes have they set, bowing down to the earth.
They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,
12 He is like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as a young lion lurking in secret places.
like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Arise, Jehovah, anticipate him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, thy sword;
Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
14 From men [who are] thy hand, O Jehovah, from men of this age: their portion is in [this] life, and their belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]; they have their fill of sons, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their children.
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.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.