Psalms 17:1-11

1 A Prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear [to] my prayer, without lips of deceit.

2 From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly.

3 Thou hast proved my heart, Thou hast inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.

4 As to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;

5 To uphold my goings in Thy paths, My steps have not slidden.

6 I -- I called Thee, for Thou dost answer me, O God, incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech.

7 Separate wonderfully Thy kindness, O Saviour of the confiding, By Thy right hand, from withstanders.

8 Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.

9 From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.

10 Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:

11 `Our steps now have compassed [him];' Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.

Psalms 17:1-11 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.