17
A Prayer of David.
1 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry,
Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
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 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips
I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in thy paths,
That my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God:
Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee
From those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye,
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me,
From my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They are inclosed in their own fat:
With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps:
They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey,
And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down:
Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
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 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.