Psalms 17
A Prayer of David
A plea for vindication and protection from enemies
שִׁמְעָה יְהוָה׀ צֶדֶק הַקְשִׁיבָה רִנָּתִי הַאֲזִינָה תְפִלָּתִי בְּלֹא שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָֽה׃
Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
מִלְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִי יֵצֵא עֵינֶיךָ תֶּחֱזֶינָה מֵישָׁרִֽים׃
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
בָּחַנְתָּ לִבִּי׀ פָּקַדְתָּ לַּיְלָה צְרַפְתַּנִי בַל-תִּמְצָא זַמֹּתִי בַּל-יַעֲבָר-פִּֽי׃
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
לִפְעֻלּוֹת אָדָם בִּדְבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ אֲנִי שָׁמַרְתִּי אָרְחוֹת פָּרִֽיץ׃
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
תָּמֹךְ אֲשֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶיךָ בַּל-נָמוֹטּוּ פְעָמָֽי׃
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
אֲנִֽי-קְרָאתִיךָ כִֽי-תַעֲנֵנִי אֵל הַֽט-אָזְנְךָ לִי שְׁמַע אִמְרָתִֽי׃
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
הַפְלֵה חֲסָדֶיךָ מוֹשִׁיעַ חוֹסִים מִמִּתְקוֹמְמִים בִּֽימִינֶֽךָ׃
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
שָׁמְרֵנִי כְּאִישׁוֹן בַּת-עָיִן בְּצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנִי׃
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
מִפְּנֵי רְשָׁעִים זוּ שַׁדּוּנִי אֹיְבַי בְּנֶפֶשׁ יַקִּיפוּ עָלָֽי׃
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
חֶלְבָּמוֹ סָּגְרוּ פִּימוֹ דִּבְּרוּ בְגֵאֽוּת׃
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
אַשֻּׁרֵינוּ עַתָּה סְבָבוּנוּ עֵינֵיהֶם יָשִׁיתוּ לִנְטוֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
דִּמְיֹנוֹ כְּאַרְיֵה יִכְסוֹף לִטְרוֹף וְכִכְפִיר יֹשֵׁב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
קוּמָה יְהוָה קַדְּמָה פָנָיו הַכְרִיעֵהוּ פַּלְּטָה נַפְשִׁי מֵרָשָׁע חַרְבֶּֽךָ׃
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
מִֽמְתִים יָדְךָ׀ יְהוָה מִֽמְתִים מֵחֶלֶד חֶלְקָם בַּֽחַיִּים וּֽצְפוּנְךָ תְּמַלֵּא בִטְנָם יִשְׂבְּעוּ בָנִים וְהִנִּיחוּ יִתְרָם לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם׃
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
אֲנִי בְּצֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ אֶשְׂבְּעָה בְהָקִיץ תְּמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.