Psalms, 17

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. Engrossed in themselves they are mouthing arrogant words.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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