Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Lord, listen to my justice, attend to my supplication. Pay attention to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.

Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.

2 Let my judgment proceed from your presence. Let your eyes behold fairness.

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

3 You have tested my heart and visited it by night. You have examined me by fire, and iniquity has not been found in me.

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.

4 Therefore, may my mouth not speak the works of men. I have kept to difficult ways because of the words of your lips.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Perfect my steps in your paths, so that my footsteps may not be disturbed.

Hold up my activities in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6 I have cried out because you, O God, have listened to me. Incline your ear to me and heed my words.

I have called upon you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7 Make your mercies wonderful, for you save those who hope in you.

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.

8 From those who resist your right hand, preserve me like the pupil of your eye. Protect me under the shadow of your wings,

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9 from the face of the impious who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul.

From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 They have concealed their fatness; their mouth has been speaking arrogantly.

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

11 They have cast me out, and now they have surrounded me. They have cast their eyes down to the earth.

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

12 They have taken me, like a lion ready for the prey, and like a young lion dwelling in hiding.

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

13 Rise up, O Lord, arrive before him and displace him. Deliver my soul from the impious one: your spear from the enemies of your hand.

Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is your sword:

14 Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life. Their gut has been filled from your hidden stores. They have been filled with sons, and they have bequeathed to their little ones the remainder.

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.

15 But as for me, I will appear before your sight in justice. I will be satisfied when your glory appears.

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