Psalms, 17

1. A prayer of David. Hear, LORD, my plea for justice; pay heed to my cry; Listen to my prayer spoken without guile.

1. [Prayer Of David] Listen, Yahweh, to an upright cause, pay attention to my cry, lend an ear to my prayer, my lips free from deceit.

2. From you let my vindication come; your eyes see what is right.

2. From your presence will issue my vindication, your eyes fixed on what is right.

3. You have tested my heart, searched it in the night. You have tried me by fire, but find no malice in me. My mouth has not transgressed

3. You probe my heart, examine me at night, you test me by fire and find no evil. I have not sinned with my mouth

4. as humans often do. As your lips have instructed me, I have kept the way of the law.

4. as most people do. I have treasured the word from your lips,

5. My steps have kept to your paths; my feet have not faltered.

5. my steps never stray from the paths you lay down, from your tracks; so my feet never stumble.

6. I call upon you; answer me, O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my prayer.

6. I call upon you, God, for you answer me; turn your ear to me, hear what I say.

7. Show your wonderful love, you who deliver with your right arm those who seek refuge from their foes.

7. Show the evidence of your faithful love, saviour of those who hope in your strength against attack.

8. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

8. Guard me as the pupil of an eye, shelter me in the shadow of your wings

9. from the violence of the wicked.

9. from the presence of the wicked who would maltreat me; deadly enemies are closing in on me.

10. My ravenous enemies press upon me; they close their hearts, they fill their mouths with proud roaring.

10. Engrossed in themselves they are mouthing arrogant words.

11. Their steps even now encircle me; they watch closely, keeping low to the ground,

11. They are advancing against me, now they are closing in, watching for the chance to hurl me to the ground,

12. Like lions eager for prey, like young lions lurking in ambush.

12. like a lion preparing to pounce, like a young lion crouching in ambush.

13. Rise, O LORD, confront and cast them down; rescue me so from the wicked.

13. Arise, Yahweh, confront him and bring him down, with your sword save my life from the wicked,

14. Slay them with your sword; with your hand, LORD, slay them; snatch them from the world in their prime. Their bellies are being filled with your friends; their children are satisfied too, for they share what is left with their young.

14. Yahweh, from mortals, by your hand, from mortals whose part in life is in this world. You fill their bellies from your store, their children will have all they desire, and leave their surplus to their children.

15. I am just--let me see your face; when I awake, let me be filled with your presence.

15. But I in my uprightness will see your face, and when I awake I shall be filled with the vision of you.