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The Book of Psalms

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- Chapter 17 -

Hear my righteous plea

1
A Prayer of David. Lord, listen to my justice, attend to my supplication. Pay attention to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.
2
Let my judgment proceed from your presence. Let your eyes behold fairness.
3
You have tested my heart and visited it by night. You have examined me by fire, and iniquity has not been found in me.
4
Therefore, may my mouth not speak the works of men. I have kept to difficult ways because of the words of your lips.
5
Perfect my steps in your paths, so that my footsteps may not be disturbed.
6
I have cried out because you, O God, have listened to me. Incline your ear to me and heed my words.
7
Make your mercies wonderful, for you save those who hope in you.
8
From those who resist your right hand, preserve me like the pupil of your eye. Protect me under the shadow of your wings,
9
from the face of the impious who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul.
10
They have concealed their fatness; their mouth has been speaking arrogantly.(a)
11
They have cast me out, and now they have surrounded me. They have cast their eyes down to the earth.(b)
12
They have taken me, like a lion ready for the prey, and like a young lion dwelling in hiding.
13
Rise up, O Lord, arrive before him and displace him. Deliver my soul from the impious one: your spear from the enemies of your hand.
14
Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life.(c) Their gut has been filled from your hidden stores.(d) They have been filled with sons, and they have bequeathed to their little ones the remainder.
15
But as for me, I will appear before your sight in justice. I will be satisfied when your glory appears.

Footnotes

(a)16:10 Their fat:That is, their bowels of compassion: for they have none for me.(Challoner)
(b)16:11 They look down on other people, even the whole world. They put on the mask of false humility, casting their eyes downward, as if humble, while they act with self-exaltation and condescension.(Conte)
(c)16:14 Divide them from the few, etc:That is, cut them off from the earth, and the few trifling things thereof; which they are so proud of, or divide them from the few; that is, from thy elect, who are but few; that they may no longer have it in their power to oppress them. It is not meant by way of a curse or imprecation; but, as many other the like passages in the psalms, by way of a prediction, or prophecy of what should come upon them, in punishment of their wickedness.(Challoner)
(d)16:14 Your hidden stores:Your secret treasures, out of which you furnish those earthly goods, which, with a bountiful hand you have distributed both to the good and the bad.(Challoner)

Hear my righteous plea

1
Hear, LORD, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
2
Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.
3
You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
4
As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
5
My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
6
I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.
7
Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
8
Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9
from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10
They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
11
They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
12
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13
Arise, LORD, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14
from men by your hand, LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
15
As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
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