< Psalms 17 >
1 A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
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 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes look upon equity.
Let my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness.
3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
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 As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.
As for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have guarded [myself from] hard ways.
5 My steps have held fast to thy paths, my feet have not slipped.
Direct my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and] hear my speech.
I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words.
7 Shew thy marvelous lovingkindness, O thou that savest them which put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them], by thy right hand.
Shew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee.
8 Keep 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 that spoil me, my deadly enemies, that compass me about.
from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul.
10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They have enclosed [themselves with] their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they set their eyes to cast [us] down to the earth.
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 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were 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, confront him, cast him down: deliver my soul 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 [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure: they are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
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 As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
But I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears.