Psalms 17
1 A prayer of David. Lord, please hear my cry for justice! Please pay attention to my call for help! Listen to the prayer of an honest man!
“A psalm of David.” Hear the righteous cause, O LORD! Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit!
2 Vindicate me before you—for you see what is right.
May my sentence come forth from thy presence; May thine eyes behold uprightness!
3 You have observed my thoughts, you have visited me at night, you have examined me—and you have found nothing wrong. I promised myself I wouldn't say anything I shouldn't.
Provest thou my heart, visitest thou me in the night, Triest thou me like gold, thou shalt find nothing!
4 With regard to the actions of others: I have done what you told me and I have avoided what violent people do.
My thoughts do not vary from my lips. As to the deeds of men, Through the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 I have not strayed from your path; my feet have not slipped from it.
Support my steps in thy paths, That my feet may not slip!
6 God, I call out to you because I know you will answer; please listen carefully to what I have to say.
I call upon thee, O God! for thou wilt hear me; Incline thine ear to me, and listen to my prayer!
7 Show me how wonderful your trustworthy love really is, Savior of those who come to you for protection against their enemies!
Show forth thy loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand Them that seek refuge in thee from their adversaries!
8 Keep me safe as someone you love; hide me underneath your wings.
Guard me as the apple of the eye; Hide me under the shadow of thy wings
9 Protect me from the attacks of the wicked who want to destroy me, from my enemies who surround me, intent on killing me.
From the wicked who assault me, From my deadly enemies who compass me about!
10 They have no compassion, and all they have to say is pure arrogance.
They shut up their hard heart; With their mouth they speak haughtily.
11 They hunt me down and surround me, looking for the chance to knock me down in the dust.
They encompass us in all our steps; They fix their eyes upon us, that they may cast us on the ground.
12 They are like lions, longing to tear their prey apart; like fierce lions crouching in ambush.
They are like a lion, eager for his prey; Like a young lion, lurking in secret places.
13 Lord, stand up and confront them! Force them to back down! By your sword rescue me from the wicked!
Arise, O LORD! disappoint them, cast them down! Deliver me from the wicked by thy sword,
14 Lord, by your power, save me from people whose only thought is for this world. May they be filled with what you have in store for them, their children too, with left-overs for their grandchildren!
From men, by thy hand, O LORD! from men of the world, Whose portion is in life; whom thou loadest with thy treasure; Whose children have enough, and leave their superfluity to their children.
15 As for me, I shall see your face in all its goodness. When I awake, I will be so pleased to see you face to face.
But I through righteousness shall see thy face; I shall be satisfied with the revival of thy countenance.
