Psalm 15

A Psalm of David.

¹ O Lord, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? and who shall dwell in thy holy mountain?

² He that walks blameless, and works righteousness, who speaks truth in his heart. ³ Who has not spoken craftily with is tongue, neither has done evil to his neighbour, nor taken up a reproach against them that dwelt nearest to him. ⁴ In his sight an evil-worker is set at nought, but he honours them that fear the Lord. He swears to his neighbour, and disappoints him not. ⁵ He has not ¹lent his money on usury, and has not received bribes against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 16

A writing of David.

¹ Keep me, O Lord; for I have hoped in thee. ² I said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord; for thou has no need of my ²goodness. ³ On behalf of the saints that are in his land, he has magnified all his pleasure in them. ⁴ Their weaknesses have been multiplied; afterward they hasted. I will by no means assemble their bloody meetings, neither will I make mention of their names with my lips. ⁵ The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou art he that restores my inheritance to me. ⁶ The lines have fallen to me in the best places, yea, I have a most excellent heritage.

⁷ I will bless the Lord who has instructed me; my reins too have chastened me even ³till night. ⁸ I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. ⁹ Therefore my heart rejoiced an my tongue exulted; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: ¹⁰ because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither ⁴wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. ¹¹ Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand there are delights for ever.

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

¹ Hearken, O Lord ⁵of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not uttered with deceitful lips. ² Let my judgment come forth from thy presence;

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let mine eyes behold righteousness. ³ Thou has proved mine heart; thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me: I am purposed that my mouth shall not speak amiss. ⁴ As for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have ⁶guarded myself from hard ways. ⁵ Direct my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not.

⁶ I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words. ⁷ Shew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee. ⁸ Keep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering of thy wings, ⁹ from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul. ¹⁰ They have enclosed themselves with their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride. ¹¹ They have now cast me out and compassed me round about: they have set their eyes so as to bow them down to the ground. ¹² They laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling in secret places. ¹³ Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: draw thy sword, ¹⁴ because of the enemies of thine hand: O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with thy hidden treasures: they have been satisfied with ⁷uncleanness, and have left the remnant of their possessions to their babes.

¹⁵ But I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears.