49. A Prayer from an Honest Heart
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Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
May my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.
Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
Psalm 17:1–3H
OWmany of us would have the audacity to stride into God’s
presence one morning, presenting ourselves to him as “totally
righteous”? The moment we’d try to make such a claim we’d be
puffed up with pride and our so-called righteousness would go up
in smoke. The moment we’d try to present ourselves as “totally hon-
est” we’d already have lied. Nobody’s totally honest. So where did