Psalms 17

¹ Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

² From thee let my vindication come! Let thy eyes see the right!

³ If thou triest my heart, if thou visitest me by night, if thou testest me, thou wilt find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress.

⁴ With regard to the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

⁵ My steps have held fast to thy paths, my feet have not slipped.

⁶ I call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God; incline thy ear to me, hear my words.

⁷ Wondrously show thy steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at thy right hand.

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

⁹ from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.

¹⁰ They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

¹¹ They track me down; now they surround me; they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.

¹² They are like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.

¹³ Arise, O LORD! confront them, overthrow them! Deliver my life from the wicked by thy sword,

¹⁴ from men by thy hand, O LORD, from men whose portion in life is of the world. May their belly be filled with what thou hast stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their babes.

¹⁵ As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with beholding thy form.