Psalm 17

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