Psalms 17

1 A prayer of David. Listen to my plea for justice, Yahweh; pay attention to my call for help! Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit.

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.

2 Let my vindication come from your presence; let your eyes see what is right!

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3 If you test my heart, if you come to me in the night, you will purify me and will not find any evil plans; my mouth will not transgress.

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

4 As for the deeds of mankind, it is at the word of your lips that I have kept myself from the ways of the lawless.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.

5 My steps have held firmly to your tracks; my feet have not slipped.

Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not.

6 I call to you, for you answer me, God; turn your ear to me and listen when I speak.

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

7 Show your covenant faithfulness in a wonderful way, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their enemies!

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

8 Protect me like the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings

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

9 from the presence of the wicked ones who assault me, my enemies who surround me.

From the wicked that oppress me, [from] my deadly enemies, [who] compass me about.

10 They have no mercy on anyone; their mouths speak with pride.

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

11 They have surrounded my steps. They set their eyes to strike me to the ground.

They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12 They are like a lion eager for a victim, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.

Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, Yahweh! Attack them! Throw them down on their faces! Rescue my life from the wicked by your sword!

Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, [which is] thy sword:

14 Rescue me from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of this world whose prosperity is in this life alone! You will fill the bellies of your treasured ones with riches; they will have many children and will leave their wealth to their children.

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

15 As for me, I will see your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied, when I awake, with a sight of you.

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