Psalm 17
1
Hear me, LORD, my plea is just;
listen to my cry.
Hear my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
2 Let my vindication come from
you;
may your eyes see what is right.
3 Though you probe my heart,
though you examine me at night and test me,
you will find that I have planned
no evil;
my mouth has not transgressed.
4 Though people tried to bribe
me,
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
through what your lips have commanded.
5 My steps have held to your
paths;
my feet have not stumbled.
6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
7 Show me the wonders of your
great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
8 Keep me as the apple of your
eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
though you examine me at night
and test me,
I may
not pass the test
I may
flunk it
I want
to be free of evil thoughts
selfish
desires
pretensions
of control
There
are those who want to destroy me
disrupt
my life
interfere
with my work
They
surround me
attack
me
overwhelm
me
I want
to strike back
I plot
to get revenge
get even
see them
suffer as I do
My heart
is not always pure
my
motives not clean
my
intentions less than honorable
My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not stumbled.
I look
unto you, My God, to lead me
to show
me the way I must walk
the
words I should speak
to keep
me upright and holy
On your
path I know
how to
love and when to forgive
how to
trust and when to risk
how to
comfort and when to mourn
When I
stumble you catch me
When I
stray you redirect me
When I
get lost you rescue me
You are
the way
You are
the truth
You are
the life
I call on you, my God, for you
will answer me;
I lift
my voice
you hear
I cry
from my wounds
you care
I
whisper my fears
you
listen
You
answer me in the quiet of night
and in
the dawn
You
answer me in my youth
and in
my aging
hide me in the shadow of your
wings
There
I am
safe
I am
whole
I am
home
Amen.