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 prayer of David. Listen, O Lord, to my innocence; attend to my piercing cry. Give heed to my prayer out of lips unfeigned.
2 Vindicate me before you—for you see what is right.
Let my vindication come from you, your eyes see the truth.
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.
When you test my heart when you visit at night, and assay me like silver – you can find no evil. I am determined that my mouth should not lie.
4 With regard to the actions of others: I have done what you told me and I have avoided what violent people do.
I gave earnest heed to the words of your lips.
5 I have not strayed from your path; my feet have not slipped from it.
My steps have held fast to the paths of your precepts and in your tracks have my feet never stumbled.
6 God, I call out to you because I know you will answer; please listen carefully to what I have to say.
So I call you, O God, with assurance of answer; bend down your ear to me, hear what I say.
7 Show me how wonderful your trustworthy love really is, Savior of those who come to you for protection against their enemies!
Show your marvellous love, you who save from enemies those who take refuge at your right hand.
8 Keep me safe as someone you love; hide me underneath your wings.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shelter of your 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 wicked people who do me violence, from deadly foes who crowd around me.
10 They have no compassion, and all they have to say is pure arrogance.
They have closed their hearts to pity, the words of their mouths are haughty.
11 They hunt me down and surround me, looking for the chance to knock me down in the dust.
Now they dog us at every step, keenly watching, to hurl us to the ground,
12 They are like lions, longing to tear their prey apart; like fierce lions crouching in ambush.
like a lion, longing to tear, like a young lion, lurking in secret.
13 Lord, stand up and confront them! Force them to back down! By your sword rescue me from the wicked!
Arise, Lord, face them and fell them. By your sword set me free from the wicked,
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!
by your hand, O Lord, from those – whose portion of life is but of this world. But let your treasured ones have food in plenty may their children be full and their children satisfied.
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.
In my innocence I will see your face, awake I am filled with a vision of you.
