Chapter 17

  A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend to my cry, give ear to my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.  

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  Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thy eyes behold the things that are equal.  

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  Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.  

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  Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.  

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  Uphold my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.  

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  I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thy ear to me, and hear my speech.  

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  Show thy wonderful loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them who put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.  

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  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shade of thy wings.  

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  From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who encompass me,  

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  They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.  

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  They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;  

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  Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.  

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  Arise, O LORD disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, who is thy sword:  

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  From men who are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, who 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.  

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  As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.  

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