Psalms 17
1 “A prayer of David.” Hear, O Lord, [the cause of] righteousness, attend unto my entreaty, give ear unto my prayer, coming from lips without deceit.
A prayer of David. Hearken, O Lord of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not [uttered] with deceitful lips.
2 Let from thy presence my sentence come forth; let thy eyes behold what is right.
Let my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness.
3 Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast thought of me in the night; thou hast refined me—thou couldst find nothing: my purpose doth not pass beyond [the words of] my mouth.
Thou has proved mine heart; thou hast visited [me] by night; thou hast tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me: [I am purposed] that my mouth shall not speak [amiss].
4 Among the deeds of men did I observe, by the word of thy lips, the paths of the dissolute.
As for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have guarded [myself from] hard ways.
5 My steps held firmly to thy tracks, [and] my footsteps did not slip.
Direct my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not.
6 I call on thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thy ear unto me, hear my speech.
I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words.
7 Show marvelously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest those who put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them] by thy right hand.
Shew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; conceal me under the shadow of thy wings,
Keep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that despoil me, my enemies, who, to take my life, compass me about.
from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul.
10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They have enclosed [themselves with] their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride.
11 On our steps they now encompass us: they direct their eyes to turn aside in the land.
They have now cast me out and compassed me round about: they have set their eyes [so as] to bow them down to the ground.
12 Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.
They laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling in secret [places].
13 Arise, O Lord, prevent him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, who is thy sword, —
Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: [draw] thy sword,
14 From these men—thy hand—O Lord, from the men of this world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hidden treasure: they have children in plenty, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
because of the enemies of thine hand: O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with thy hidden [treasures]: they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant [of their possessions] to their babes.
15 As for me, in righteousness shall I behold thy face: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with contemplating thy likeness.
But I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears.
