Psalm 17 (Tate & Brady)

1 To just plea and sad complaint,

attend, O righteous Lord,

And to my pray'r, as 'tis unfeigned,

a gracious ear afford.

2 As in thy sight I am approved,

so let my sentence be;

And with impartial eyes, O Lord,

my upright dealing see.

3 For thou hast searched my heart by day,

and visited by night;

And on the strictest trial found

its secret motions right.

Nor shall thy justice, Lord, alone

my heart's designs acquit;

For I have purposed that my tongue

shall no offence commit.

4 I know what wicked men would do

their safety to maintain;

But me thy just and mild commands

from bloody paths restrain.

5 That I may still, in spite of wrongs,

my innocence secure;

O guide me in thy righteous ways,

and make my footsteps sure.

6 Since heretofore I ne'er in vain

to thee my pray'r addressed;

O now, my God, incline thine ear

to this my just request.

7 The wonders of thy truth and love

in my defense engage;

Thou, whose right hand preserves thy saints

from their oppressors' rage.

The Second Part.

8,9 O! keep me in thy tend'rest care;

thy shelt'ring wings stretch out,

To guard me safe from savage foes,

that compass me about.

10 O'ergrown with luxury, enclosed

in their own fat they lie;

And with a proud blaspheming mouth

both God and man defy.

1l Well may they boast, for they have now

my paths encompassed round;

Their eyes at watch, their bodies bowed,

and crouching on the ground,

12 In posture of a lion set,

when greedy of his prey;

Or a young lion, when he lurks

within a covert way.

13 Arise, O Lord, defeat their plots,

their swelling rage control;

From wicked men, who are thy sword,

deliver thou my soul.

14 From worldly men, thy sharpest scourge,

whose portion's here below;

Who, filled with earthly stores, desire

no other bliss to know.

15 Their race is num'rous that partake

their substance while they live:

Their heirs survive, to whom they may

the vast remainder give.

16 But I, in uprightness, thy face

shall view without control;

And, waking, shall its image find

reflected in my soul.