Psalms 16

¹ The prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.

² Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.

³ Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me.

⁴ That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways.

⁵ Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not moved.

⁶ I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline thy ear unto me, and hear my words.

⁷ Shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust in thee.

⁸ From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.

⁹ From the face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul:

¹⁰ They have shut up their fat : their mouth hath spoken proudly. [10] "Their fat" : That is, their bowels of compassion: for they have none for me.

¹¹ They have cast me forth and now they have surrounded me: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth.

¹² They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a young lion dwelling in secret places.

¹³ Arise, O Lord, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul from the wicked one: thy sword

¹⁴ From the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden stores . They are full of children: and they have left to their little ones the rest of their substance.

¹⁵ But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear. [14] "Divide them from the few" : That is, cut them off from the earth, and the few trifling things thereof; which they are so proud of, or divide them from the few; that is, from thy elect, who are but few; that they may no longer have it in their power to oppress them. It is not meant by way of a curse or imprecation; but, as many other the like passages in the psalms, by way of a prediction, or prophecy of what should come upon them, in punishment of their wickedness. Ibid. [14] "Thy hidden stores" : Thy secret treasures, out of which thou furnishest those earthly goods, which, with a bountiful hand thou hast distributed both to the good and the bad. Book of Psalms next > Psalm 16 next > TOP OF PAGE side_ads("../") var sc_project = 12672635; var sc_invisible = 1; var sc_security = "b8696459";