Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Hear, O Yahweh, the right, Attend to my loud cry, Give ear unto my prayer, on lips that would not deceive:

Hear the right, O LORD, attend to my cry, give ear to my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.

2 From before thee, let my sentence come forth, Thine eyes, behold with equity.

Let my sentence come forth from your presence; let your eyes behold the things that are equal.

3 Thou hast tested my heart, hast made inspection by night, hast refined me until thou couldst find nothing, Had I devised evil, my mouth should not have transgressed:

You have proved my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me, and shall find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4 As for the workings of men, By the word of thy lips, have, I, taken heed of the paths of the violent one.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Thou hast held fast my goings on to thy ways, My footsteps have not been shaken:

Hold up my goings in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6 I, have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O GOD, —Incline thine ear unto me, Hear thou my speech:

I have called on you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear to me, and hear my speech.

7 Let thy lovingkindness be distinguished, thou Saviour of such as seek refuge from them who lift themselves up against thy right hand.

Show your marvelous loving kindness, O you that save by your right hand them which put their trust in you from those that rise up against them.

8 Guard me, as the pupil of the eye, —Under the shadow of thy wings, wilt thou hide me:

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9 From the face of lawless ones who have treated me with violence, the foes of my soul, who come round against me:

From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 Their own fat [heart], have they shut up, —With their mouth, have they spoken proudly.

They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 As for our own goings, now, have they surrounded us, —Their eyes, they fix, bending to the earth:

They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12 His likeness, is as a lion, that longeth to rend, and as 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 Rise, Yahweh! Confront his face, Bring him down, Deliver my soul from the lawless one [who is] thy sword:

Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword:

14 From men [who are] thy hand, O Yahweh, From the men of this age, whose portion, is among the living, and, with thy treasure, thou fillest their bosom, —They must be satisfied with sons, And must leave their abundance to their children: —

From men which are your hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly you fill with your hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

15 I, in righteousness, shall behold thy face, Shall be satisfied when awakened by a vision of thee.

As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.