Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend to my cry, give ear to my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips.

A Prayer. Of David. Let my cause come to your ears, O Lord, give attention to my cry; give ear to my prayer which goes not out from false lips.

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

Be my judge; for your eyes see what is right.

3 Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited [me] in the night; thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I have purposed [that] my mouth shall not transgress.

You have put my heart to the test, searching me in the night; you have put me to the test and seen no evil purpose in me; I will keep my mouth from sin.

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.

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

5 Uphold my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not.

I have kept my feet in your ways, my steps have not been turned away.

6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thy ear to me, [and hear] my speech.

My cry has gone up to you, for you will give me an answer, O God: let your ear be turned to me, and give attention to my words.

7 Show thy wonderful loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them who put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them].

Make clear the wonder of your mercy, O saviour of those who put their faith in your right hand, from those who come out against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shade of thy wings.

Keep me as the light of your eyes, covering me with the shade of your wings,

9 From the wicked that oppress me, [from] my deadly enemies, [who] encompass me,

From the evil-doers who are violent to me, and from those who are round me, desiring my death.

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

They are shut up in their fat: with their mouths they say words of pride.

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

They have made a circle round our steps: their eyes are fixed on us, forcing us down to the earth;

12 Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Like a lion desiring its food, and like a young lion waiting in secret places.

13 Arise, O LORD disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, [who is] thy sword:

Up! Lord, come out against him, make him low, with your sword be my saviour from the evil-doer.

14 From men [who are] thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [who have] their portion in [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their babes.

With your hand, O Lord, from men, even men of the world, whose heritage is in this life, and whom you make full with your secret wealth: they are full of children; after their death their offspring take the rest of their goods.

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

As for me, I will see your face in righteousness: when I am awake it will be joy enough for me to see your form.