PSALM 17 [†] Hear a just cause, O LORD;  g attend to my cry!

Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

2[^] From your presence  h let my vindication come!

Let your eyes behold the right!

3[†] You have  i tried my heart, you have  j visited me by  k night,

you have  l tested me, and you will find nothing;

I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips

I have avoided the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have  m held fast to your paths;

my feet have not slipped.

6[†] I  n call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

 o incline your ear to me; hear my words.

7[^]  p Wondrously show [1] your steadfast love,

O Savior of those who seek refuge

from  q their adversaries at your right hand.

8[†] Keep me as  r the apple of your eye;

hide me in  s the shadow of your wings,

9 from the wicked who do me violence,

my deadly enemies who  t surround me.

10[†]  u They close their hearts to pity;

with their mouths they  v speak arrogantly.

11 They have now surrounded our  w steps;

they set their eyes to  x cast us to the ground.

12 He is like a lion eager to tear,

as a young lion  y lurking in ambush.

13[†] Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!

Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

14[†] from men by your hand, O LORD,

from  z men of the world whose  a portion is in this life. [2]

You fill their womb with treasure; [3]

they are satisfied with  b children,

and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15[^][†] As for me, I shall  c behold your face in righteousness;

when I  d awake, I shall be  e satisfied with your likeness.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David,  f the servant of the LORD,  g who addressed the words of this  h song to the LORD on the day when the LORD rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: