< Psalms 17 >

1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend to my cry, give ear to my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.
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 Let my sentence come forth from your presence; let your eyes behold the things that are equal.
Let my vindication come from you, your eyes see the truth.
3 You have proved my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me, and shall find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
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 Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
I gave earnest heed to the words of your lips.
5 Hold up my goings in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.
My steps have held fast to the paths of your precepts and in your tracks have my feet never stumbled.
6 I have called on you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear to me, and hear my speech.
So I call you, O God, with assurance of answer; bend down your ear to me, hear what I say.
7 Show your marvelous loving kindness, O you that save by your right hand them which put their trust in you from those that rise up against them.
Show your marvelous love, you who save from enemies those who take refuge at your right hand.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings,
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shelter of your wings.
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
From wicked people who do me violence, from deadly foes who crowd around me.
10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They have closed their hearts to pity, the words of their mouths are haughty.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
Now they dog us at every step, keenly watching, to hurl us to the ground,
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
like a lion, longing to tear, like a young lion, lurking in secret.
13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword:
Arise, Lord, face them and fell them. By your sword set me free from the wicked,
14 From men which are your hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly you fill with your hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
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 will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.
In my innocence I will see your face, awake I am filled with a vision of you.

< Psalms 17 >