Psalms 17

1 A Prayer by David. Hear, LORD, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that does not go out of deceitful 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 out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, 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, LORD, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

Arise, O Lord, prevent him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, who is 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 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 see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

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