The Psalms: Book 1, Psalm 17

Psalm 17  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 4
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Psalm 17
1 A prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness; attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer [which is] not from lips of deceit.
2 My judgment goeth forth from thy presence; thine eyes behold that which is right.
3 Thou host proved my heart, thou host visited [me] by night; thou host refined me; thou shalt find nothing; I have purposed, my mouth shall not transgress.
4 As to the works of man, by the words of thy lips I have watched the paths of the violent,
5 To hold fast my feet in thy paths; my footsteps were not moved.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou answerest me, O God;1 incline thine ear unto me, hear my speech.
7 Distinguish thy mercies, [O thou] who by thy right hand savest those who trust from those rising up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; under the shadow of thy wings thou wilt bide me,
9 From the face of the wicked who have oppressed me: mine enemies in soul will surround me.
10 Their fat they have closed; [with] their mouth they have spoken in pride.
11 [In] our steps they have now surrounded us; their eyes they set to stretch out over the earth.
12 His likeness [is] as a lion; he longeth to tear in pieces, and as a young lion sitting in secret places.
13 Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, cause him to bow down; deliver my soul from the wicked [man], thy sword:
14 From men, thy hand, O Jehovah, from men of the world: their portion is in this life and [with] thy treasure thou fillest their belly; they are satisfied with sons, and they leave their abundance to their children.
15 As for me, in righteousness I shall behold thy face; I shall be satisfied in awaking [with] thy likeness.