Psalm 17

A PRAYER OF DAVID.

1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer,

that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;

let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3 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.

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

I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

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

incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7 Show thy marvellous lovingkindness,

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

from those that rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 They are enclosed in their own fat:

with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 They have now compassed us in our steps:

they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey,

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

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

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

14 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.

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

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

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