A Prayer of David. 8,6,8,6 ^1Lord, hear the right, attend my cry, unto my pray'r give heed, That doth not in hypocrisy from feigned lips proceed. ^2And from before thy presence forth my sentence do thou send: Toward these things that equal are do thou thine eyes intend. ^3Thou 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. ^4As for men's works, I, by the word that from thy lips doth flow, Did me preserve out of the paths wherein destroyers go. ^5Hold up my goings, Lord, me guide in those thy paths divine, So that my footsteps may not slide out of those ways of thine. ^6I called have on thee, O God, because thou wilt me hear: That thou may'st hearken to my speech, to me incline thine ear. ^7Thy wondrous loving-kindness show, thou that, by thy right hand, Sav'st them that trust in thee from those that up against them stand. ^8As th' apple of the eye me keep; in thy wings shade me close ^9From lewd oppressors, compassing me round, as deadly foes. ^10In their own fat they are inclos'd; their mouth speaks loftily. ^11Our steps they compass'd; and to ground down bowing set their eye. ^12He like unto a lion is that's greedy of his prey, Or lion young, which lurking doth in secret places stay. ^13Arise, and disappoint my foe, and cast him down, O Lord: My soul save from the wicked man, the man which is thy sword. ^14From 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. ^15But as for me, I thine own face in righteousness will see; And with thy likeness, when I wake, I satisfy'd shall be. |