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 psalm of David.” Hear the righteous cause, O LORD! Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit!
2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.
May my sentence come forth from thy presence; May thine eyes behold uprightness!
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.
Provest thou my heart, visitest thou me in the night, Triest thou me like gold, thou shalt find nothing!
4 As for the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
My thoughts do not vary from my lips. As to the deeds of men, Through 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.
Support my steps in thy paths, That my feet may not slip!
6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.
I call upon thee, O God! for thou wilt hear me; Incline thine ear to me, and listen to my prayer!
7 Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
Show forth thy loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand Them that seek refuge in thee from their adversaries!
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
Guard 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 who assault me, From my deadly enemies who compass me about!
10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
They shut up their hard heart; With their mouth they speak haughtily.
11 They have tracked me down; suddenly they surround me. They watch closely, crouching down to the ground.
They encompass us in all our steps; They fix their eyes upon us, that they may cast us on the ground.
12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
They are like a lion, eager for his prey; Like 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 them, cast them down! Deliver me from the wicked by 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, by thy hand, O LORD! from men of the world, Whose portion is in life; whom thou loadest with thy treasure; Whose children have enough, and leave their superfluity to their children.
15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
But I through righteousness shall see thy face; I shall be satisfied with the revival of thy countenance.
