Hear My Righteous Plea

1A Prayer of David.

1 Hear, O YHWH, a just cause;

attend to my cry;

give ear to my prayer

without lips of deceit.

2From before Your face, let my judgment come forth;

may Your eyes see uprightness.

3You have tested my heart;

You have inspected in the night.

You have refined me without Your finding,

for I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4As for the works of men,

by the word of Your lips

I have kept myself from the ways of a violent one.

5To uphold my steps on Your paths,

my footsteps are not shaken.

6I call on You,

for You will answer me, O God!

Incline Your ear to me;

hear my word.

7Set apart Your loving devotion,

You who save those seeking refuge from the assailants—

with Your right hand.

8May you guard me as the pupil, the daughter of Your eye;

hide me in the shadow of Your wings,

9from wicked ones who would ruin me,

my enemies in soul go around against me.

10Their fat they have closed up;

their mouths they speak with pride.

11In our steps now they have surrounded us;

they have set their eyes to cast us to the ground.

12His likeness is as a lion longing to tear,

and like a young lion lurking in hidden places.

13Arise, O YHWH! Go before his face;

cast him down,

and rescue my soul from the wicked by your sword,

14from men by Your hand, O YHWH,

from men of the world—

their portion is in this life.

And Your treasured ones, You fill their belly;†

they are satisfied with sons,

and they leave their remainder to their children.

15I, in righteousness, will see Your face;

in my waking, I will be satisfied with Your form.