Psalm 17

Hear My Righteous Plea

A prayer of David.

¹Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;

listen to my cry.

Give ear to my prayer—

it comes from lips free of deceit.

²May my vindication come from Your presence;

may Your eyes see what is right.

³You have tried my heart;

You have visited me in the night.

You have tested me and found no evil;

I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

⁴As for the deeds of men—

by the word of Your lips

I have avoided the ways of the violent.

⁵My steps have held to Your paths;

my feet have not slipped.

⁶I call on You, O God,

for You will answer me.

Incline Your ear to me;

hear my words.

⁷Show the wonders of Your loving devotion,

You who save by Your right hand

those who seek refuge from their foes.

⁸Keep me as the apple of ^a Your eye;

hide me in the shadow of Your wings

⁹from the wicked who assail me,

from my mortal enemies who surround me.

¹⁰They have closed their callous hearts;

their mouths speak with arrogance.

¹¹They have tracked us down, and now surround us;

their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

¹²like a lion greedy for prey,

like a young lion lurking in ambush.

¹³Arise, O LORD, confront them!

Bring them to their knees;

deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

¹⁴from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—

from men of the world

whose portion is in this life.

May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones ^b and satisfy their sons,

so they leave their abundance to their children.

¹⁵As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness;

when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.