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17 [1] **A prayer by David. Hear, Lord, what is just, **that** **which is sincere and true;** heed my cry. Give ear to my **earnest **prayer, which does not come from deceitful lips. **
[2] **Let my judgment come forth from Your presence, **as I am confident that there will be a favorable outcome when God judges me. **Let Your eyes see what is right, **to see if there is any fault that lies within me.
[3] **You have examined my heart, taken an account** **at night. **Your examination of me is applied not only to deeds, usually performed during the day, but also to the thoughts of the heart, which are just as active at night as by day. **You inspected me and found nothing. **The term *tzeraftani*, translated as “You inspected me,” literally means “You refined me,” as a silversmith refines silver by inspecting it and removing any impurities that he finds. But even at this level of scrutiny, You found nothing. **I pondered, **I examined my thoughts to ascertain that I had no unworthy musings, **and nothing passed my lips, **as I certainly did not utter anything unworthy aloud.
[4] **In the doings of men, **in all my mundane actions and in everything that I do in this world, **I follow Your instruction.** **I have** **avoided the ways of trespassers, **those whose evil respects no boundaries.
[5] **Secure my steps on Your paths, so my feet will not stumble. **
[6] **I call upon You **in the hope **that** **You** will **answer me, Almighty,** because I know You can help me.** Incline Your ear to me; hear my speech. **
[7] **Reveal Your kindness, Redeemer of those who take refuge **in You, as You are protecting them **from the enemies who rise up **against You, whom I consider to be my own enemies as well, and You are** sheltering** them** in Your right hand. **
[8] **Guard me like the pupil of an eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings **
[9] **from the wicked who rob me, my mortal enemies who encircle me. **
[10] **They are encased in their fat. **In ancient times, obesity was a sign of wealth and power.** Their mouths speak with haughtiness. **
[11] **I see them now surrounding us. They cast their eyes, spreading them over the land. **The psalmist sees his enemies surrounding him, looking about in search of prey.
[12] **He is akin to** **a lion yearning to tear at his prey, like a lion cub lurking in hidden lairs.**
[13] The psalmist prays: **Arise, Lord, confront him and subdue him. Rescue me from the wicked with Your sword. **Reveal Yourself, God, and declare war on the enemy.
[14] Furthermore, he asks for God’s protection: To be **among those people** who are **under Your hand, **protected by You, **Lord, those people in the land whose portion, **thanks to Your assistance to them,** is life. Fill their bellies with Your hidden treasures; sate their sons, too, and let them leave what is left to their offspring. **
[15] The psalmist concludes with a prayer and a request: **Truly, I shall see Your face; Your image will fill my waking vision. **Find me worthy of seeing Your presence revealed, as the prophets did, even while awake.
Version: The Steinsaltz Tanakh - English
Source: https://korenpub.com/collections/the-steinsaltz-tanakh/products/steinsaltz-tanakh
License: Copyright: Steinsaltz Center