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A Prayer by David.

17 Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea.
    Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
Let my sentence come out of your presence.
    Let your eyes look on equity.
You have proved my heart.
    You have visited me in the night.
    You have tried me, and found nothing.
    I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths.
    My feet have not slipped.
I have called on you, for you will answer me, God.
    Turn your ear to me.
    Hear my speech.
Show your marvelous loving kindness,
    you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
    Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who oppress me,
    my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10 They close up their callous hearts.
    With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps.
    They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey,
    as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, Yahweh, confront him.
    Cast him down.
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14     from men by your hand, Yahweh,
    from men of the world, whose portion is in this life.
You fill the belly of your cherished ones.
    Your sons have plenty,
    and they store up wealth for their children.
15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.
    I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

Psalm 17

A Prayer of David.

Hear the right (my righteous cause), O Lord; listen to my shrill, piercing cry! Give ear to my prayer, that comes from unfeigned and guileless lips.

Let my sentence of vindication come from You! May Your eyes behold the things that are just and upright.

You have proved my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and find nothing [no evil purpose in me]; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent (the paths of the destroyer).

My steps have held closely to Your paths [to the tracks of the One Who has gone on before]; my feet have not slipped.

I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me; incline Your ear to me and hear my speech.

Show Your marvelous loving-kindness, O You Who save by Your right hand those who trust and take refuge in You from those who rise up against them.

Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

From the wicked who despoil and oppress me, my deadly adversaries who surround me.

10 They are enclosed in their own prosperity and have shut up their hearts to pity; with their mouths they make exorbitant claims and proudly and arrogantly speak.

11 They track us down in each step we take; now they surround us; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground,

12 Like a lion greedy and eager to tear his prey, and as a young lion lurking in hidden places.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront and forestall them, cast them down! Deliver my life from the wicked by Your sword,

14 From men by Your hand, O Lord, from men of this world [these poor moths of the night] whose portion in life is idle and vain. Their bellies are filled with Your hidden treasure [what You have stored up]; their children are satiated, and they leave the rest [of their] wealth to their babes.

15 As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].