17 ⁽⁰⁾ A prayer of David:

⁽¹⁾ Hear a just cause, Adonai, heed my cry;
listen to my prayer from honest lips.
² Let my vindication come from you,
let your eyes see what is right.

³ You probed my heart,
you visited me at night,
and you assayed me without finding evil thoughts
that should not pass my lips.
⁴ As for what others do, by words from your lips
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent;
⁵ my steps hold steadily to your paths,
my feet do not slip.

⁶ Now I call on you, God, for you will answer me.
Turn your ear to me, hear my words.
⁷ Show how wonderful is your grace,
savior of those who seek at your right hand
refuge from their foes.
⁸ Protect me like the pupil of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings
⁹ from the wicked, who are assailing me,
from my deadly enemies, who are all around me.
¹⁰ They close their hearts to compassion;
they speak arrogantly with their mouths;
¹¹ they track me down, they surround me;
they watch for a chance to bring me to the ground.
¹² They are like lions eager to tear the prey,
like young lions crouching in ambush.

¹³ Arise, Adonai, confront them! Bring them down!
With your sword deliver me from the wicked,
¹⁴ with your hand, Adonai, from human beings,
from people whose portion in life is this world.
You fill their stomachs with your treasure,
their children will be satisfied too
and will leave their wealth to their little ones.

¹⁵ But my prayer, in righteousness, is to see your face;
on waking, may I be satisfied with a vision of you.