Psalms 17

1 A PRAYER OF DAVID. Hear, O YHWH, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear [to] my prayer, without lips of deceit.

A Prayer. Of David. Let my cause come to your ears, O Lord, give attention to my cry; give ear to my prayer which goes not out from false lips.

2 My judgment goes out from before You; Your eyes see uprightly.

Be my judge; for your eyes see what is right.

3 You have proved my heart, You have inspected by night, You have tried me, You find nothing; My thoughts do not pass over my mouth.

You have put my heart to the test, searching me in the night; you have put me to the test and seen no evil purpose in me; I will keep my mouth from sin.

4 As for doings of man, Through a word of Your lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;

As for the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

5 To uphold my goings in Your paths, My steps have not slipped.

I have kept my feet in your ways, my steps have not been turned away.

6 I called You, for You answer me, O God, incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.

My cry has gone up to you, for you will give me an answer, O God: let your ear be turned to me, and give attention to my words.

7 Separate Your kindness wonderfully, O Savior of the confiding, By Your right hand, from withstanders.

Make clear the wonder of your mercy, O saviour of those who put their faith in your right hand, from those who come out against them.

8 Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings,

Keep me as the light of your eyes, covering me with the shade of your wings,

9 From the face of the wicked who spoiled me, [From] my enemies in soul who go around against me.

From the evil-doers who are violent to me, and from those who are round me, desiring my death.

10 They have closed up their fat, Their mouths have spoken with pride:

They are shut up in their fat: with their mouths they say words of pride.

11 “Our steps have now surrounded [him]”; They set their eyes to turn aside in the land.

They have made a circle round our steps: their eyes are fixed on us, forcing us down to the earth;

12 His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.

Like a lion desiring its food, and like a young lion waiting in secret places.

13 Arise, O YHWH, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Your sword,

Up! Lord, come out against him, make him low, with your sword be my saviour from the evil-doer.

14 From men, Your hand, O YHWH, From men of the world, their portion [is] in life, And [with] Your hidden things You fill their belly, They are satisfied [with] sons, And have left their abundance to their sucklings.

With your hand, O Lord, from men, even men of the world, whose heritage is in this life, and whom you make full with your secret wealth: they are full of children; after their death their offspring take the rest of their goods.

15 I—in righteousness, I see Your face; I am satisfied, in awaking, [with] Your form!

As for me, I will see your face in righteousness: when I am awake it will be joy enough for me to see your form.