Exaudi, Domine, justitiam. A just man's prayer in tribulation against the malice of his enemy.

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 show 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.