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:

The prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.

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

Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.

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 hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me.

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

That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways.

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

Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not moved.

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 to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline thy ear unto me, and hear 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 forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust in thee.

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

From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect 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 face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul:

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

They have shut up their fat: their mouth hath spoken proudly.

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

They have cast me forth and now they have surrounded me: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth.

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

They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a young lion 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, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul from the wicked one: 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 the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little ones the rest of their substance.

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

But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.