Psalms 17

1 A Prayer by David. Hear, LORD, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.

The prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.

2 Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.

Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.

3 You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.

Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me.

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

That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways.

5 My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.

Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not moved.

6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.

I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline thy ear unto me, and hear my words.

7 Show your marvellous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.

Shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust in thee.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.

9 from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.

From the face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul:

10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.

They have shut up their fat: their mouth hath spoken proudly.

11 They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

They have cast me forth and now they have surrounded me: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth.

12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a young lion dwelling in secret places.

13 Arise, LORD, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

Arise, O Lord, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul from the wicked one: thy sword

14 from men by your hand, LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.

From the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little ones the rest of their substance.

15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.