Psalm 17

Lord, hear the right, attend my cry,

unto my pray'r give heed,

That doth not in hypocrisy

from feigned lips proceed.

And from before thy presence forth

my sentence do thou send:

Toward these things that equal are

do thou thine eyes intend.

Thou prov'dst mine heart, thou visit'dst me

by night, thou didst me try,

Yet nothing found'st; for that my mouth

shall not sin, purpos'd I.

As for men's works, I, by the word

that from thy lips doth flow,

Did me preserve out of the paths

wherein destroyers go.

Hold up my goings, Lord, me guide

in those thy paths divine,

So that my footsteps may not slide

out of those ways of thine.

I called have on thee, O God,

because thou wilt me hear:

That thou may'st hearken to my speech,

to me incline thine ear.

Thy wondrous loving-kindness show,

thou that, by thy right hand,

Sav'st them that trust in thee from those

that up against them stand.

As th' apple of the eye me keep;

in thy wings shade me close

From lewd oppressors, compassing

me round, as deadly foes.

In their own fat they are inclos'd;

their mouth speaks loftily.

Our steps they compass'd; and to ground

down bowing set their eye.

He like unto a lion is

that's greedy of his prey,

Or lion young, which lurking doth

in secret places stay.

Arise, and disappoint my foe,

and cast him down,

O Lord: My soul save from the wicked man,

the man which is thy sword.

From men, which are thy hand, O Lord,

from worldly men me save,

Which only in this present life

their part and portion have.

Whose belly with thy treasure hid

thou fill'st: they children have

In plenty; of their goods the rest

they to their children leave.

But as for me, I thine own face

in righteousness will see;

And with thy likeness, when I wake,

I satisfy'd shall be.