17 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.

Shew 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.

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.

10 They are inclosed 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.

17 1 Here he complaineth to God of the cruel pride and arrogance of Saul, and the rest of his enemies, who thus raged without any cause given on his part. 6 Therefore he desireth God to revenge his innocence and deliver him.

The prayer of David.

Hear [a]the right, O Lord, consider my cry: hearken unto my prayer of lips unfeigned.

Let my [b]sentence come forth from thy presence, and let thine eyes behold equity.

Thou hast [c]proved and visited mine heart in the night: thou hast tried me, and foundest nothing: for I was purposed that my [d]mouth should not offend.

Concerning the works of men, by the [e]words of thy lips I kept me from the paths of the cruel man.

Stay my steps in thy paths, that my feet do not slide.

I have called upon thee: [f]surely thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words.

Show thy marvelous mercies: thou that art the Savior of them that trust in thee, from such as [g]resist thy right hand.

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

From the wicked that oppress me, from mine enemies, which compass me round about for [h]my soul.

10 They are enclosed in their own [i]fat, and they have spoken proudly with their mouth.

11 They have compassed us now in our steps: they have set their eyes to bring down to the ground:

12 Like as a lion that is greedy of prey, and as it were a Lion’s whelp lurking in secret places.

13 Up Lord, [j]disappoint him: cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked [k]with thy sword,

14 From men by thine [l]hand, O Lord, from men [m]of the world, who have their [n]portion in this life, whose bellies thou fillest with thine hid treasure: their children have enough, and leave the rest of their substance for their children.

15 But I will behold thy face [o]in righteousness, and when I [p]wake, I shall be satisfied with thine image.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:1 My righteous cause.
  2. Psalm 17:2 The vengeance that thou shalt show against mine enemies.
  3. Psalm 17:3 When thy Spirit examined my conscience.
  4. Psalm 17:3 I was innocent toward mine enemy both in deed and thought.
  5. Psalm 17:4 Though the wicked provoked me to do evil for evil, yet thy word kept me back.
  6. Psalm 17:6 He was assured that God would not refuse his request.
  7. Psalm 17:7 For all rebel against thee, which trouble thy Church.
  8. Psalm 17:9 For their cruelty cannot be satisfied but with my death.
  9. Psalm 17:10 They are puffed up with pride, as the stomach that is choked with fat.
  10. Psalm 17:13 Stop his rage.
  11. Psalm 17:13 Or, which is thy sword.
  12. Psalm 17:14 By thine heavenly power.
  13. Psalm 17:14 Or, whose tyranny hath too long endured.
  14. Psalm 17:14 And feel not the smart that God’s children oft times do.
  15. Psalm 17:15 This is the full felicity, comforting against all assaults, to have the face of God and favorable countenance opened unto us.
  16. Psalm 17:15 And am delivered out of my great troubles.