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:

A prayer of David. Hearken, O Lord of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not [uttered] with deceitful lips.

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

Let my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness.

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 has proved mine heart; thou hast visited [me] by night; thou hast tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me: [I am purposed] that my mouth shall not speak [amiss].

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 words of thy lips I have guarded [myself from] hard ways.

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

Direct my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not.

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

I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words.

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

Shew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee.

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 from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering 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 face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul.

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

They have enclosed [themselves with] their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride.

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

They have now cast me out and compassed me round about: they have set their eyes [so as] to bow them down to the ground.

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

They laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling 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 Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: [draw] 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: —

because of the enemies of thine hand: O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with thy hidden [treasures]: they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant [of their possessions] to their babes.

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

But I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears.