Psalms 17:1-6

1 A prayer of David: Hear a just cause, ADONAI, heed my cry; listen to my prayer from honest lips.

2 Let my vindication come from you, let your eyes see what is right.

3 You probed my heart, you visited me at night, and you assayed me without finding evil thoughts that should not pass my lips.

4 As for what others do, by words from your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent;

5 my steps hold steadily to your paths, my feet do not slip.

6 Now I call on you, God, for you will answer me. Turn your ear to me, hear my words.

Psalms 17:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 17

\\<>\\. This prayer was put up by David either in his own person, on his own account, praying to God for the vindication of his cause, and for salvation and deliverance from his enemies; or in the person of the Messiah, whose type he was, and of the whole church, so Jerom of old interpreted it; and the title of it in the Arabic version is, ``a prayer in the person of a perfect man, and of Christ himself, and of everyone that is redeemed by him;'' in which preservation and protection are prayed for, and hope of eternal life is expressed. It was written, according to Theodoret, when David suffered persecution from Saul.