Psalms 17

1 A prayer of David. Lord, please hear my cry for justice! Please pay attention to my call for help! Listen to the prayer of an honest man!

A Prayer of David. Hear, O Yahweh, the right, Attend to my loud cry, Give ear unto my prayer, on lips that would not deceive:

2 Vindicate me before you—for you see what is right.

From before thee, let my sentence come forth, Thine eyes, behold with equity.

3 You have observed my thoughts, you have visited me at night, you have examined me—and you have found nothing wrong. I promised myself I wouldn't say anything I shouldn't.

Thou hast tested my heart, hast made inspection by night, hast refined me until thou couldst find nothing, Had I devised evil, my mouth should not have transgressed:

4 With regard to the actions of others: I have done what you told me and I have avoided what violent people do.

As for the workings of men, By the word of thy lips, have, I, taken heed of the paths of the violent one.

5 I have not strayed from your path; my feet have not slipped from it.

Thou hast held fast my goings on to thy ways, My footsteps have not been shaken:

6 God, I call out to you because I know you will answer; please listen carefully to what I have to say.

I, have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O GOD, —Incline thine ear unto me, Hear thou my speech:

7 Show me how wonderful your trustworthy love really is, Savior of those who come to you for protection against their enemies!

Let thy lovingkindness be distinguished, thou Saviour of such as seek refuge from them who lift themselves up against thy right hand.

8 Keep me safe as someone you love; hide me underneath your wings.

Guard me, as the pupil of the eye, —Under the shadow of thy wings, wilt thou hide me:

9 Protect me from the attacks of the wicked who want to destroy me, from my enemies who surround me, intent on killing me.

From the face of lawless ones who have treated me with violence, the foes of my soul, who come round against me:

10 They have no compassion, and all they have to say is pure arrogance.

Their own fat [heart], have they shut up, —With their mouth, have they spoken proudly.

11 They hunt me down and surround me, looking for the chance to knock me down in the dust.

As for our own goings, now, have they surrounded us, —Their eyes, they fix, bending to the earth:

12 They are like lions, longing to tear their prey apart; like fierce lions crouching in ambush.

His likeness, is as a lion, that longeth to rend, and as a young lion, lurking in secret places.

13 Lord, stand up and confront them! Force them to back down! By your sword rescue me from the wicked!

Rise, Yahweh! Confront his face, Bring him down, Deliver my soul from the lawless one [who is] thy sword:

14 Lord, by your power, save me from people whose only thought is for this world. May they be filled with what you have in store for them, their children too, with left-overs for their grandchildren!

From men [who are] thy hand, O Yahweh, From the men of this age, whose portion, is among the living, and, with thy treasure, thou fillest their bosom, —They must be satisfied with sons, And must leave their abundance to their children: —

15 As for me, I shall see your face in all its goodness. When I awake, I will be so pleased to see you face to face.

I, in righteousness, shall behold thy face, Shall be satisfied when awakened by a vision of thee.