Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, which is not out of feigned lips.

“A psalm of David.” Hear the righteous cause, O LORD! Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit!

2 Let my judgment come forth from thy presence, let thine eyes regard equity.

May my sentence come forth from thy presence; May thine eyes behold uprightness!

3 Thou hast proved my heart, thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me, thou hast found nothing: my thought goeth not beyond my word.

Provest thou my heart, visitest thou me in the night, Triest thou me like gold, thou shalt find nothing!

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent [man].

My thoughts do not vary from my lips. As to the deeds of men, Through the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5 When thou holdest my goings in thy paths, my footsteps slip not.

Support my steps in thy paths, That my feet may not slip!

6 I have called upon thee, for thou answerest me, O God. Incline thine ear unto me, hear my speech.

I call upon thee, O God! for thou wilt hear me; Incline thine ear to me, and listen to my prayer!

7 Shew wondrously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest by thy right hand them that trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them].

Show forth thy loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand Them that seek refuge in thee from their adversaries!

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

Guard me as the apple of the eye; Hide me under the shadow of thy wings

9 From the wicked that destroy me, my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

From the wicked who assault me, From my deadly enemies who compass me about!

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

They shut up their hard heart; With their mouth they speak haughtily.

11 They have now encompassed us in our steps; their eyes have they set, bowing down to the earth.

They encompass us in all our steps; They fix their eyes upon us, that they may cast us on the ground.

12 He is like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as a young lion lurking in secret places.

They are like a lion, eager for his prey; Like a young lion, lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, Jehovah, anticipate him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, thy sword;

Arise, O LORD! disappoint them, cast them down! Deliver me from the wicked by thy sword,

14 From men [who are] thy hand, O Jehovah, from men of this age: their portion is in [this] life, and their belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]; they have their fill of sons, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their children.

From men, by thy hand, O LORD! from men of the world, Whose portion is in life; whom thou loadest with thy treasure; Whose children have enough, and leave their superfluity to their children.

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

But I through righteousness shall see thy face; I shall be satisfied with the revival of thy countenance.