Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

A prayer of David. Listen, O Lord, to my innocence; attend to my piercing cry. Give heed to my prayer out of lips unfeigned.

2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes look upon equity.

Let my vindication come from you, your eyes see the truth.

3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

When you test my heart when you visit at night, and assay me like silver – you can find no evil. I am determined that my mouth should not lie.

4 As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.

I gave earnest heed to the words of your lips.

5 My steps have held fast to thy paths, my feet have not slipped.

My steps have held fast to the paths of your precepts and in your tracks have my feet never stumbled.

6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and] hear my speech.

So I call you, O God, with assurance of answer; bend down your ear to me, hear what I say.

7 Shew thy marvelous lovingkindness, O thou that savest them which put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them], by thy right hand.

Show your marvellous love, you who save from enemies those who take refuge at your right hand.

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

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shelter of your wings.

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

From wicked people who do me violence, from deadly foes who crowd around me.

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

They have closed their hearts to pity, the words of their mouths are haughty.

11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they set their eyes to cast [us] down to the earth.

Now they dog us at every step, keenly watching, to hurl us to the ground,

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

like a lion, longing to tear, like a young lion, lurking in secret.

13 Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked by thy sword;

Arise, Lord, face them and fell them. By your sword set me free from the wicked,

14 From men, by thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure: they are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

by your hand, O Lord, from those – whose portion of life is but of this world. But let your treasured ones have food in plenty may their children be full and their children satisfied.

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

In my innocence I will see your face, awake I am filled with a vision of you.