Psalms 17

1 A Prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear [to] my prayer, without lips of deceit.

Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.

2 From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly.

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

3 Thou hast proved my heart, Thou hast inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.

You have proved mine heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me, and shall find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4 As to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;

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

5 To uphold my goings in Thy paths, My steps have not slidden.

Hold up my activities in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6 I — I called Thee, for Thou dost answer me, O God, incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech.

I have called upon you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7 Separate wonderfully Thy kindness, O Saviour of the confiding, By Thy right hand, from withstanders.

Show your marvellous loving kindness, O you that save by your right hand them which put their trust in you from those that rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.

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

9 From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.

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

10 Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:

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

11 'Our steps now have compassed [him];' Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.

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

12 His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.

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

13 Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Thy sword,

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

14 From men, Thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, their portion [is] in life, And [with] Thy hidden things Thou fillest their belly, They are satisfied [with] sons; And have left their abundance to their sucklings.

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

15 I — in righteousness, I see Thy face; I am satisfied, in awaking, [with] Thy form!

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