17

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.

But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.

And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.