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. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer from lips without deceit.

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 Thine eyes behold equity.

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 hast tried my heart, Thou hast visited it in the night; Thou hast tested me, and Thou findest not that I had a thought which should not pass my mouth.

4 Among the deeds of men did I observe, by the word of thy lips, the paths of the dissolute.

As for the doings of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.

5 My steps held firmly to thy tracks, [and] my footsteps did not slip.

My steps have held fast to Thy paths, my feet have not slipped.

6 I call on thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thy ear unto me, hear my speech.

As for me, I call upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God; incline Thine ear unto me, hear my speech.

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.

Make passing great Thy mercies, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand from assailants them that take refuge 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, hide me in the shadow of Thy wings,

9 From the wicked that despoil me, my enemies, who, to take my life, compass me about.

From the wicked that oppress, my deadly enemies, that compass me about.

10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

Their gross heart they have shut tight, with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 On our steps they now encompass us: they direct their eyes to turn aside in the land.

At our every step they have now encompassed us; they set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

12 Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.

He is like a lion that is eager to tear in pieces, and like a young lion lurking 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, confront him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, by 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.

From men, by Thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly Thou fillest with Thy treasure; who have children in plenty, and leave their abundance 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.

As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.