< Psalms 17 >

1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.
A prayer of David. Hearken, O Lord of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not [uttered] with deceitful lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence; let your eyes behold the things that are equal.
Let my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness.
3 You have proved mine 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.
Thou has proved mine heart; thou hast visited [me] by night; thou hast tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me: [I am purposed] that my mouth shall not speak [amiss].
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
As for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have guarded [myself from] hard ways.
5 Hold up my activities in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.
Direct my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not.
6 I have called upon you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear unto me, and hear my speech.
I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words.
7 Show your marvellous loving kindness, O you that save by your right hand them which put their trust in you from those that rise up against them.
Shew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings,
Keep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul.
10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They have enclosed [themselves with] their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
They have now cast me out and compassed me round about: they have set their eyes [so as] to bow them down to the ground.
12 Like a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
They laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling in secret [places].
13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword:
Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: [draw] thy sword,
14 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.
because of the enemies of thine hand: O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with thy hidden [treasures]: they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant [of their possessions] to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.
But I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears.

< Psalms 17 >