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.

² From you let my vindication come; your eyes see 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

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

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

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

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

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

⁹ from the violence of the wicked.

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

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

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

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

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