Psalm 17:1-6

1 {A Prayer of David.} Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, which is not out of feigned lips.

2 Let my judgment come forth from thy presence, let thine eyes regard equity.

3 Thou hast proved my heart, thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me, thou hast found nothing: my thought goeth not beyond my word.

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent [man].

5 When thou holdest my goings in thy paths, my footsteps slip not.

6 I have called upon thee, for thou answerest me, O God. Incline thine ear unto me, hear my speech.

Psalm 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Strictly, 'righteousness'
• [b] Or 'right.'
• [c] Or 'I have paid attention to.'
• [d] Or 'Hold my goings in thy paths, that my ...'
• [e] Imrah: see Ps. 119.11.