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 of David. Listen, O Lord, to my innocence; attend to my piercing cry. Give heed to my prayer out of lips unfeigned.
2 From before thee, let my sentence come forth, Thine eyes, behold with equity.
Let my vindication come from you, your eyes see the truth.
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:
When you test my heart when you visit at night, and assay me like silver – you can find no evil. I am determined that my mouth should not lie.
4 As for the workings of men, By the word of thy lips, have, I, taken heed of the paths of the violent one.
I gave earnest heed to the words of your lips.
5 Thou hast held fast my goings on to thy ways, My footsteps have not been shaken:
My steps have held fast to the paths of your precepts and in your tracks have my feet never stumbled.
6 I, have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O GOD, —Incline thine ear unto me, Hear thou my speech:
So I call you, O God, with assurance of answer; bend down your ear to me, hear what I say.
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 marvellous love, you who save from enemies those who take refuge at your right hand.
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 in the shelter 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 wicked people who do me violence, from deadly foes who crowd around me.
10 Their own fat [heart], have they shut up, —With their mouth, have they spoken proudly.
They have closed their hearts to pity, the words of their mouths are haughty.
11 As for our own goings, now, have they surrounded us, —Their eyes, they fix, bending to the earth:
Now they dog us at every step, keenly watching, to hurl us to the ground,
12 His likeness, is as a lion, that longeth to rend, and as a young lion, lurking in secret places.
like a lion, longing to tear, like a young lion, lurking in secret.
13 Rise, Yahweh! Confront his face, Bring him down, Deliver my soul from the lawless one [who is] thy sword:
Arise, Lord, face them and fell them. By your sword set me free from the wicked,
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: —
by your hand, O Lord, from those – whose portion of life is but of this world. But let your treasured ones have food in plenty may their children be full and their children satisfied.
15 I, in righteousness, shall behold thy face, Shall be satisfied when awakened by a vision of thee.
In my innocence I will see your face, awake I am filled with a vision of you.
