Psalm 17: Lord, hear the right, attend my cry
A Prayer of David.
Meter: C.M. (8,6,8,6)
1 Lord, hear the right, attend my cry, unto my pray’r give heed, That doth not in hypocrisy from feigned lips proceed.
2 And from before thy presence forth my sentence do thou send: Toward these things that equal are do thou thine eyes intend.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 As th’ apple of the eye me keep; in thy wings shade me close 9 From lewd oppressors, compassing me round, as deadly foes.
10 In their own fat they are inclos’d; their mouth speaks loftily. 11 Our steps they compass’d; and to ground down bowing set their eye.
12 He like unto a lion is that’s greedy of his prey, Or lion young, which lurking doth in secret places stay.
13 Arise, and disappoint my foe, and cast him down, O Lord: My soul save from the wicked man, the man which is thy sword.
14 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.
15 But as for me, I thine own face in righteousness will see; And with thy likeness, when I wake, I satisfy’d shall be.