Chapter 17

¹{A Prayer of David.} Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, which is not out of feigned lips. ²Let my judgment come forth from thy presence, let thine eyes regard equity. ³Thou hast proved my heart, thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me, thou hast found nothing: my thought goeth not beyond my word. ⁴Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent [man]. ⁵When thou holdest my goings in thy paths, my footsteps slip not. ⁶I have called upon thee, for thou answerest me, O God. Incline thine ear unto me, hear my speech. ⁷Shew wondrously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest by thy right hand them that trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them]. ⁸Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, ⁹From the wicked that destroy me, my deadly enemies, who compass me about. ¹⁰They are enclosed in their own fat; with their mouth they speak proudly. ¹¹They have now encompassed us in our steps; their eyes have they set, bowing down to the earth. ¹²He is like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as a young lion lurking in secret places. ¹³Arise, Jehovah, anticipate him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, thy sword; ¹⁴From men [who are] thy hand, O Jehovah, from men of this age: their portion is in [this] life, and their belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]; they have their fill of sons, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their children. ¹⁵As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.