Psalms 17:1-6

Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

1 Hear a 1just cause, O LORD, 2give heed to my cry; 3Give ear to my prayer, which is not from 4deceitful lips.
2 Let 5my judgment come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with 6equity.
3 You have 7tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have 8tested me and 9You find nothing; I have 10purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 As for the deeds of men, 11by the word of Your lips I have kept from the 12paths of the violent.
5 My 13steps have held fast to Your paths. My 14feet have not slipped.
6 I have 15called upon You, for You will answer me, O God; 16Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.

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.

Cross References 16

  • 1. Psalms 9:4
  • 2. Psalms 61:1; Psalms 142:6
  • 3. Psalms 88:2
  • 4. Isaiah 29:13
  • 5. Psalms 103:6
  • 6. Psalms 98:9; Psalms 99:4
  • 7. Psalms 26:1, 2
  • 8. Job 23:10; Psalms 66:10; Zechariah 13:9; 1 Peter 1:7
  • 9. Jeremiah 50:20
  • 10. Psalms 39:1
  • 11. Psalms 119:9, 101
  • 12. Psalms 10:5-11
  • 13. Job 23:11; Psalms 44:18; Psalms 119:133
  • 14. Psalms 18:36; Psalms 37:31
  • 15. Psalms 86:7; Psalms 116:2
  • 16. Psalms 88:2

Footnotes 3

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.