1 H ear a just cause, O Lord, give heed to my cry; Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.

A Prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear my prayer, without lips of deceit.

2 L et my judgment come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with equity.

From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly.

3 Y ou have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

Thou hast proved my heart, Thou hast inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.

4 A s for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent.

As to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;

5 M y steps have held fast to Your paths. My feet have not slipped.

To uphold my goings in Thy paths, My steps have not slidden.

6 I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.

I -- I called Thee, for Thou dost answer me, O God, incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech.

7 W ondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them.

Separate wonderfully Thy kindness, O Saviour of the confiding, By Thy right hand, from withstanders.

8 K eep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings

Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.

9 F rom the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies who surround me.

From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.

10 T hey have closed their unfeeling heart, With their mouth they speak proudly.

Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:

11 T hey have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.

`Our steps now have compassed;' Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.

12 H e is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.

13 A rise, O Lord, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,

Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Thy sword,

14 F rom men with Your hand, O Lord, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes.

From men, Thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, their portion in life, And Thy hidden things Thou fillest their belly, They are satisfied sons; And have left their abundance to their sucklings.

15 A s for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

I -- in righteousness, I see Thy face; I am satisfied, in awaking, Thy form!