| 1 | Hear the right (my righteous cause), O Lord; listen to my shrill, piercing cry! Give ear to my prayer, that comes from unfeigned
and
guileless lips. |
| 2 | Let my sentence of vindication come from You! May Your eyes behold the things that are just
and
upright. |
| 3 | You have proved my heart; You have visited
me
in the night; You have tried me and find nothing [no evil purpose in me]; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. |
| 4 | Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent (the paths of the destroyer). |
| 5 | My steps have held closely to Your paths [to the tracks of the One Who has gone on before]; my feet have not slipped. |
| 6 | I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me; incline Your ear to me
and
hear my speech. |
| 7 | Show Your marvelous loving-kindness, O You Who save by Your right hand those who trust
and
take refuge in You from those who rise up against them. |
| 8 | Keep
and
guard me as the pupil of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings |
| 9 | From the wicked who despoil
and
oppress me, my deadly adversaries who surround me. |
| 10 | They are enclosed in their own prosperity
and
have shut up their hearts to pity; with their mouths they make exorbitant claims
and
proudly
and
arrogantly speak. |
| 11 | They track us down in each step we take; now they surround us; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground, |
| 12 | Like a lion greedy
and
eager to tear his prey, and as a young lion lurking in hidden places. |
| 13 | Arise, O Lord! Confront
and
forestall them, cast them down! Deliver my life from the wicked by Your sword, |
| 14 | From men by Your hand, O Lord, from men of
this
world [these poor moths of the night] whose portion in life is idle
and
vain. Their bellies are filled with Your hidden treasure [what You have stored up]; their children are satiated, and they leave the rest [of their] wealth to their babes. |
| 15 | As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You]. |