A Prayer by David.

• ¹Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea;
• Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.

• ²Let my sentence come forth from your presence.
• Let your eyes look on equity.

• ³You 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.

• ⁴As for the works of men, by the word of your lips,
• I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

• ⁵My steps have held fast to your paths.
• My feet have not slipped.

• ⁶I have called on you, for you will answer me, God.
• Turn your ear to me.
• Hear my speech.

• ⁷Show your marvelous loving kindness,
• you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.

• ⁸Keep me as the apple of your eye.
• Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

• ⁹from the wicked who oppress me,
• my deadly enemies, who surround me.

• ¹⁰They close up their callous hearts.
• With their mouth they speak proudly.

• ¹¹They have now surrounded us in our steps.
• They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

• ¹²He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey,
• as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

• ¹³Arise, Yahweh, confront him.
• Cast him down.
• Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;
• ¹⁴from men by your hand, Yahweh,

• 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.

• ¹⁵As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.
• I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.