Psalms 17

1 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:

Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend to my cry. Give ear to my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.

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

Let my justice come forth from thy presence. Let thine eyes look upon equity.

3 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:

Thou have proved my heart. Thou have visited me in the night. Thou have tried me, and find nothing. I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

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

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

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

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

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

I have called upon thee, for thou will answer me, O God. Incline thine ear to me, and hear my speech.

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

Show thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou who saves by thy right hand those who take refuge from those who rise up.

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

Keep me as the apple of the eye. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

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

from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who encompass me around.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arise, O Jehovah, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by thy sword,

14 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: —

from men by thy hand, O Jehovah, from men of the world whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fill with thy treasure. They are satisfied with sons, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

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

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