Psalms 17:6-15

6 I have 1called upon You, for You will answer me, O God; 2Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
7 3Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O 4Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the 5apple of the eye; Hide me 6in the shadow of Your wings
9 From the 7wicked who despoil me, My 8deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have 9closed their unfeeling heart, With their mouth they 10speak proudly.
11 They have now 11surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes 12to cast us down to the ground.
12 He is 13like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion 14lurking in hiding places.
13 15Arise, O LORD, confront him, 16bring him low; 17Deliver my soul from the wicked with 18Your sword,
14 From men with 19Your hand, O LORD, From men of the world, 20whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You 21fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes.
15 As for me, I shall 22behold Your face in righteousness; 23I will be satisfied with Your 24likeness when I awake.

Psalms 17:6-15 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.

Cross References 24

  • 1. Psalms 86:7; Psalms 116:2
  • 2. Psalms 88:2
  • 3. Psalms 31:21
  • 4. Psalms 20:6
  • 5. Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8
  • 6. Ruth 2:12; Psalms 36:7; Psalms 57:1; Psalms 61:4; Psalms 63:7; Psalms 91:1, 4
  • 7. Psalms 31:20
  • 8. Psalms 27:12
  • 9. Job 15:27; Psalms 73:7
  • 10. 1 Samuel 2:3; Psalms 31:18; Psalms 73:8
  • 11. Psalms 88:17
  • 12. Psalms 37:14
  • 13. Psalms 7:2
  • 14. Psalms 10:9
  • 15. Psalms 3:7
  • 16. Psalms 55:23
  • 17. Psalms 22:20
  • 18. Psalms 7:12
  • 19. Psalms 17:7
  • 20. Psalms 73:3-7; Luke 16:25
  • 21. Psalms 49:6
  • 22. Psalms 11:7; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 140:13; 1 John 3:2
  • 23. Psalms 4:6, 7
  • 24. Numbers 12:8

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Or "from those who rise up...at Your right hand"
  • [b]. Lit "the pupil, the daughter of the eye"
  • [c]. Lit "fat"
  • [d]. Or "whose portion in life is of the world"
  • [e]. Or "with" beholding
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