Psalms 17:1-6

1 Listen, O Lord, to my plea for justice; pay attention to my cry for help! Listen to my honest prayer.
2 You will judge in my favor, because you know what is right.
3 You know my heart. You have come to me at night; you have examined me completely and found no evil desire in me. I speak no evil,
4 as others do; I have obeyed your command and have not followed paths of violence.
5 I have always walked in your way and have never strayed from it.
6 I pray to you, O God, because you answer me; so turn to me and listen to 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.

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.