Psalms 17

1 A prayer of David. Listen, O Lord, to my innocence; attend to my piercing cry. Give heed to my prayer out of lips unfeigned.

A prayer of David. Listen to my plea for justice, Yahweh; pay attention to my call for help! Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit.

2 Let my vindication come from you, your eyes see the truth.

Let my vindication come from your presence; let your eyes see what is right!

3 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.

If you test my heart, if you come to me in the night, you will purify me and will not find any evil plans; my mouth will not transgress.

4 I gave earnest heed to the words of your lips.

As for the deeds of mankind, it is at the word of your lips that I have kept myself from the ways of the lawless.

5 My steps have held fast to the paths of your precepts and in your tracks have my feet never stumbled.

My steps have held firmly to your tracks; my feet have not slipped.

6 So I call you, O God, with assurance of answer; bend down your ear to me, hear what I say.

I call to you, for you answer me, God; turn your ear to me and listen when I speak.

7 Show your marvellous love, you who save from enemies those who take refuge at your right hand.

Show your covenant faithfulness in a wonderful way, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their enemies!

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shelter of your wings.

Protect me like the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings

9 From wicked people who do me violence, from deadly foes who crowd around me.

from the presence of the wicked ones who assault me, my enemies who surround me.

10 They have closed their hearts to pity, the words of their mouths are haughty.

They have no mercy on anyone; their mouths speak with pride.

11 Now they dog us at every step, keenly watching, to hurl us to the ground,

They have surrounded my steps. They set their eyes to strike me to the ground.

12 like a lion, longing to tear, like a young lion, lurking in secret.

They are like a lion eager for a victim, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.

13 Arise, Lord, face them and fell them. By your sword set me free from the wicked,

Arise, Yahweh! Attack them! Throw them down on their faces! Rescue my life from the wicked by your sword!

14 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.

Rescue me from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of this world whose prosperity is in this life alone! You will fill the bellies of your treasured ones with riches; they will have many children and will leave their wealth to their children.

15 In my innocence I will see your face, awake I am filled with a vision of you.

As for me, I will see your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied, when I awake, with a sight of you.