Psalm 16–17

Psalm 16

A miktam^a of David.

¹Keep me safe,^c my God,

for in you I take refuge.^d

²I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;^e

apart from you I have no good thing.”^f

³I say of the holy people^g who are in the land,^h

“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

⁴Those who run after other godsⁱ will suffer^j more and more.

I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods

or take up their names^k on my lips.

⁵Lord, you alone are my portion^l and my cup;^m

you make my lotⁿ secure.

⁶The boundary lines^o have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.^p

⁷I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;^q

even at night^r my heart instructs me.

⁸I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

With him at my right hand,^s I will not be shaken.^t

⁹Therefore my heart is glad^u and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,^v

¹⁰because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,^w

nor will you let your faithful^b one^x see decay.^y

¹¹You make known to me the path of life;^z

you will fill me with joy in your presence,^a

with eternal pleasures^b at your right hand.^c

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

¹Hear me,^d Lord, my plea is just;

listen to my cry.^e

Hear^f my prayer—

it does not rise from deceitful lips.^g

²Let my vindication^h come from you;

may your eyes see what is right.ⁱ

³Though you probe my heart,^j

though you examine me at night and test me,^k

you will find that I have planned no evil;^l

my mouth has not transgressed.^m

⁴Though people tried to bribe me,

I have kept myself from the ways of the violent

through what your lips have commanded.

⁵My steps have held to your paths;ⁿ

my feet have not stumbled.^o

⁶I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;^p

turn your ear to me^q and hear my prayer.^r

⁷Show me the wonders of your great love,^s

you who save by your right hand^t

those who take refuge^u in you from their foes.

⁸Keep me^v as the apple of your eye;^w

hide me^x in the shadow of your wings^y

⁹from the wicked who are out to destroy me,

from my mortal enemies who surround me.^z

¹⁰They close up their callous hearts,^a

and their mouths speak with arrogance.^b

¹¹They have tracked me down, they now surround me,^c

with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.

¹²They are like a lion^d hungry for prey,^e

like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

¹³Rise up,^f Lord, confront them, bring them down;^g

with your sword rescue me from the wicked.

¹⁴By your hand save me from such people, Lord,

from those of this world^h whose reward is in this life.ⁱ

May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;

may their children gorge themselves on it,

and may there be leftovers^j for their little ones.

¹⁵As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;

when I awake,^k I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.^l