THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.
Psalm 17 ©
David, in confidence that his uprightness and innocence was well known unto God, prays for preservation and protection against his persecutors, who, by reason of their temporal felicity here on earth, did most tyrannously oppress the innocent; and comforts himself in God’s salvation and the blessed hope of life eternal.
A Prayer of David.
HEAR the 1right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not 2out of feigned lips.
3Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are 4equal.
Thou hast 5proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt 6find nothing; I am 7purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Concerning the works of men, 8by the word of thy lips I have 9kept me from the paths of the 10destroyer.
11Hold up my goings in thy 12paths, 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 13marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy 14right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
Keep me as 15the apple of the eye,a hide me under the 16shadow of thy wings,
17From the wicked that oppress me, from my 18deadly enemies, who compass me about.
They are 19inclosedb in their own fat: with their mouth they speak 20proudly.
They have now 21compassed us in our steps: they have set their 22eyes bowing down to the earth;
Like 23as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
24Arise, O LORD, 25disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is 26thy sword:
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their 27portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy 28hid treasure: 29they are full of children, and leave the 30rest of their substance to their 31babes.
32As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with 33thy likeness.