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:

[A Prayer by David.] Hear, LORD, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn't go out of deceitful 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 look on equity.

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 found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.

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

As for the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

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

My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.

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 answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. 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, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.

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 your 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 who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.

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

They close up their callous hearts. 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 tracked me down; suddenly they surround me. They watch closely, crouching down to the ground.

12 His likeness, is as a lion, that longeth to rend, and as a young lion, lurking in secret places.

He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, 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, LORD, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by 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 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.

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

As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.