Psalms 17:2-12

2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold uprightness.

3 Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast refined me and hast found no iniquity; that which I thought did not pass through my mouth.

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have observed the ways of the violent.

5 Sustain my steps in thy ways that my footsteps not slip.

6 I have called upon thee, because thou dost hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me and hear my speech.

7 Show thy mercy to be marvellous, O Saviour of those who put their trust in thee, from those that rise up against thy right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me with the shadow of thy wings,

9 from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 They are closed in with their own fat; with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes upon throwing us down to the earth

12 like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Psalms 17:2-12 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.