Psalm 17

Prayer of David

Hear thou the right, Jehovah, O
attention pay my prayer
that comes not out of faking lips.
Yes, let my verdict come

Come from your presence; let your eyes
see clearly righteous things.
You've tested my heart; you have vis-
ited me in the night.

You've tried me, you find nothing wrong
I am resolved my mouth
shall not cross lines it should not cross.
Now as for how men work,

by your lips' word, heard and obeyed
I've kept me from the paths
of the destroyer. Please hold up
my goings in your paths

Yours, where my footsteps do not slip.
I have upon you called
For you will hear me, O my God;
bend'down your ear to me,
.

hear thou my speech. Show your marvel-
lous loving-kindness, O
you who save by your right hand those
who put their trust in you,

You save them from those that rise up.
Keep me as th'apply of
your eye. Hide me under the cov'-
ring shadow of your wings

from wicked men that squeeze on me,
my deadly enemies,
they who surround me--ring me in--
they are enclosed in their

own fat; with their mouth they speak proud-
ly; they have now surround-
ed us in our steps, trapped our way.
They've set their eyes to look

down on the earth, like greedy li-
on, greedy for his prey,
and like a lion young that lurks,
in secret places waits.

Rise up, Jehovah, disappoint
him, Lord, and throw him down.
Deliver my soul from the wic-
ked man, your hand-held sword

From men which are your hand, Jeho-
vah, from men of the world;
their portion in life here they seek;
whose belly you do fill

with what you hid; they're full of chil-
dren and they leave the rest
of what they have to their babies.
But as for me I will

see your face in full righteousness;
I shall be satisfied
when I wake up with your likeness,
your image ris'n in me.

24 August A.D. 2010, while waiting in hospital with my wife Wendy to see if baby Sophie, officially due 13 September, is about to show her face. (Apparently not; we're home now). Used pocket KJV as a basis rather than Young's bulkier Literal. After I post these lyrics I'll play them and in a week or so Associated Content should have them up, D.V.

I've let this series of fairly literal metrical psalms sit for a few weeks or months while recording and posting to youtube the selections I like from an A.D. 1927 Psalter Hymnal of the then "United Presbyterian" denomination. My choices into Psalm 119 are posted-- www.youtube.com, search "Andrew Lohr;" the rest are recorded but not yet posted. I think my favorite of those are "Now to God our strength and Savior" (from Psalm 81) and "Judge me God of my salvation" (from Psalm 43). Most of that series is probably easier to like than most of this, because here I'm trying to be more literal and there they were paraphrasing more loosely. The psalter I live in (tend to sing through about four times a year) is, of course, "The Book of Psalms for Singing" from www.crownandcovenant.com , which at a glance I still prefer to their newer "The Book of Psalms for Worship;" but Christian singing without the Psalms is drifting without an anchor, or like a scattered fleet without a harbor, often like candy without fruit and meat. Who are we to tell triune Jehovah we don't need the lyrics, or song bases, he's given us? Since He has given them, we might take a hint and receive. Who are we to say Twila Paris writes better lyrics than the Holy Ghost? (Obviously no one ever says that with their lips, but what do our choices of music to hear and sing say?)

Love God, love God's lyrics.