Psalm 17

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes: 128 Salzburg, 105 St Andrew, 125 St Peter

1    Lord, hear the right, attend my cry,

            unto my pray’r give heed,

      That doth not in hypocrisy

            from feigned lips proceed.

2    And from before thy presence forth

            my sentence do thou send:

      Toward these things that equal are

            do thou thine eyes intend.

3    Thou prov’dst mine heart, thou visit’dst me

            by night, thou didst me try,

      Yet nothing found’st; for that my mouth

            shall not sin, purpos’d I.

4    As for men’s works, I, by the word

            that from thy lips doth flow,

      Did me preserve out of the paths

            wherein destroyers go.

5    Hold up my goings, Lord, me guide

            in those thy paths divine,

      So that my footsteps may not slide

            out of those ways of thine.

6    I called have on thee, O God,

            because thou wilt me hear:

      That thou may’st hearken to my speech,

            to me incline thine ear.

7    Thy wondrous loving-kindness shew,

            thou that, by thy right hand,

      Sav’st them that trust in thee from those

            that up against them stand.

8    As th’ apple of the eye me keep;

            in thy wings’ shade me close

9    From lewd oppressors, compassing

            me round, as deadly foes.

10  In their own fat they are inclos’d;

            their mouth speaks loftily.

11  Our steps they compass’d; and to ground

            down bowing set their eye.

12  He like unto a lion is

            that’s greedy of his prey,

      Or lion young, which lurking doth

            in secret places stay.

13  Arise, and disappoint my foe,

            and cast him down, O Lord:

      My soul save from the wicked man,

            the man which is thy sword.

14  From men, which are thy hand, O Lord,

            from worldly men me save,

      Which only in this present life

            their part and portion have.

      Whose belly with thy treasure hid

            thou fill’st: they children have

      In plenty; of their goods the rest

            they to their children leave.

15  But as for me, I thine own face

            in righteousness will see;

      And with thy likeness, when I wake,

            I satisfy’d shall be.