< Psalms 17 >

1 [A Prayer by David.] Hear, LORD, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn't go out of deceitful lips.
A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend to my cry, give ear to my prayer, that goeth not out of deceitful lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thy eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 As for the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
Uphold my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thy ear to me, and hear my speech.
7 Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them who put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have tracked me down; suddenly they surround me. They watch closely, crouching down to the ground.
They have now surrounded us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, LORD, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, who is thy sword:
14 from men with your hand, LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure. They are satisfied with children, and they leave their wealth to their little ones.
From men who are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, who have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

< Psalms 17 >