The Psalms 17

A Prayer for Protection against Oppressors

A Prayer of David.

Hear the right, O LORD,

attend unto my cry;

give ear unto my prayer,

that goeth not out of feigned lips.

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;

let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

Thou hast proved mine heart;

thou hast visited me in the night;

thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing:

I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips

I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Hold up my goings in thy paths,

that my footsteps slip not.

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God:

incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Show thy marvelous loving-kindness,

O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee

from those that rise up against them.

Keep me as the apple of the eye;

hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

from the wicked that oppress me,

from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

They are inclosed in their own fat:

with their mouth they speak proudly.

They have now compassed us in our steps:

they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

like as a lion that is greedy of his prey,

and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down:

deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

from men which are thy hand, O LORD,

from men of the world, which have their portion in this life,

and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure:

they are full of children,

and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:

I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Published by The American Bible Society