Psalms 17:6-15

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

7 Shew wondrously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest by thy right hand them that trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them].

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

9 From the wicked that destroy me, my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

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

11 They have now encompassed us in our steps; their eyes have they set, bowing down to the earth.

12 He is like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, Jehovah, anticipate him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, thy sword;

14 From men [who are] thy hand, O Jehovah, from men of this age: their portion is in [this] life, and their belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]; they have their fill of sons, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their children.

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalms 17:6-15 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]. Imrah: see Ps. 119.11.
• [b]. Chesed: see 2Chron. 6.42.
• [c]. See Deut. 32.10; Prov. 7.2,9; 20.20.
• [d]. Or 'me.'
• [e]. Or 'they set their eyes to cast [us] down to the earth.'
• [f]. Or '[by] thy sword.'
• [g]. Or '[by].'
• [h]. Cheled or 'world:' so Ps. 49.1; 'life,' Ps. 89.47 and Job 11.17; also 'lifetime,' Ps. 39.5.
• [i]. Or [their] sons are surfeited.'
• [j]. Or 'as.'