< Psalms 17 >

1 “A psalm of David.” Hear the righteous cause, O LORD! Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer 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 May my sentence come forth from thy presence; May thine eyes behold uprightness!
Let my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness.
3 Provest thou my heart, visitest thou me in the night, Triest thou me like gold, thou shalt find nothing!
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 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.
As for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have guarded [myself from] hard ways.
5 Support my steps in thy paths, That my feet may not slip!
Direct my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not.
6 I call upon thee, O God! for thou wilt hear me; Incline thine ear to me, and listen to my prayer!
I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words.
7 Show forth thy loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand Them that seek refuge in thee from their adversaries!
Shew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee.
8 Guard me as the apple of the eye; Hide 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 who assault me, From my deadly enemies who compass me about!
from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul.
10 They shut up their hard heart; With their mouth they speak haughtily.
They have enclosed [themselves with] their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride.
11 They encompass us in all our steps; They fix their eyes upon us, that they may cast us on the ground.
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 They are like a lion, eager for his prey; Like a young lion, lurking in secret places.
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! disappoint them, cast them down! Deliver me from the wicked by thy sword,
Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: [draw] thy sword,
14 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.
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 But I through righteousness shall see thy face; I shall be satisfied with the revival of thy countenance.
But I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears.

< Psalms 17 >