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.” Hear, O Lord, [the cause of] righteousness, attend unto my entreaty, give ear unto my prayer, coming from lips without deceit.

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

Let from thy presence my sentence come forth; let thy eyes behold 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.

Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast thought of me in the night; thou hast refined me—thou couldst find nothing: my purpose doth not pass beyond [the words of] my mouth.

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

Among the deeds of men did I observe, by the word of thy lips, the paths of the dissolute.

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

My steps held firmly to thy tracks, [and] my footsteps did not slip.

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

I call on thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thy ear unto me, hear my speech.

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].

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

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

Keep me as the apple of the eye; conceal me under the shadow of thy wings,

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

From the wicked that despoil me, my enemies, who, to take my life, compass me about.

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

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

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

On our steps they now encompass us: they direct their eyes to turn aside in the land.

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

Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.

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

Arise, O Lord, prevent him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, who is thy sword, —

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.

From these men—thy hand—O Lord, from the men of this world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hidden treasure: they have children in plenty, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

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

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