Psalm 16–17

PSALM 16

A Miktam of David.

¹Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take refuge.

²I say to the Lord, “Thou art my Lord;

I have no good apart from thee.”

³As for the saints in the land, they are the noble,

in whom is all my delight.

⁴Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;

their libations of blood I will not pour out

or take their names upon my lips.

⁵The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

thou holdest my lot.

⁶The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

yea, I have a goodly heritage.

⁷I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

⁸I keep the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;

my body also dwells secure.

¹⁰For thou dost not give me up to Sheol,

or let thy godly one see the Pit.

¹¹Thou dost show me the path of life;

in thy presence there is fulness of joy,

in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

PSALM 17

A Prayer of David.

¹Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!

Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

²From thee let my vindication come!

Let thy eyes see the right!

³If thou triest my heart, if thou visitest me by night,

if thou testest me, thou wilt find no wickedness in me;

my mouth does not transgress.

⁴With regard to the works of men, by the word of thy lips

I have avoided the ways of the violent.

⁵My steps have held fast to thy paths,

my feet have not slipped.

⁶I call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God;

incline thy ear to me, hear my words.

⁷Wondrously show thy steadfast love,

O savior of those who seek refuge

from their adversaries at thy right hand.

⁸Keep me as the apple of the eye;

hide me in the shadow of thy wings,

⁹from the wicked who despoil me,

my deadly enemies who surround me.

¹⁰They close their hearts to pity;

with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

¹¹They track me down; now they surround me;

they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.

¹²They are like a lion eager to tear,

as a young lion lurking in ambush.

¹³Arise, O Lord! confront them, overthrow them!

Deliver my life from the wicked by thy sword,

¹⁴from men by thy hand, O Lord,

from men whose portion in life is of the world.

May their belly be filled with what thou hast stored up for them;

may their children have more than enough;

may they leave something over to their babes.

¹⁵As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness;

when I awake, I shall be satisfied with beholding thy form.