Psalm 17

¹Hear my plea of innocence, O Lord; give heed to my cry; *listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.

²Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *let your eyes be fixed on justice.

³Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.

⁴I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *I have heeded the words of your lips.

⁵My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *in your paths my feet shall not stumble.

⁶I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *incline your ear to me and hear my words.

⁷Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise up against them.

⁸Keep me as the apple of your eye; *hide me under the shadow of your wings,

⁹From the wicked who assault me, *from my deadly enemies who surround me.

¹⁰They have closed their heart to pity, *and their mouth speaks proud things.

¹¹They press me hard, now they surround me, *watching how they may cast me to the ground,

¹²Like a lion, greedy for its prey, *and like a young lion lurking in secret places.

¹³Arise, O Lord; confront them and bring them down; *deliver me from the wicked by your sword.

¹⁴Deliver me, O Lord, by your hand *from those whose portion in life is this world;

¹⁵Whose bellies you fill with your treasure, *who are well supplied with children and leave their wealth to their little ones.

¹⁶But at my vindication I shall see your face; *when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.