Psalms 17:7-15

7 Show your marvelous lovingkindness, You who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9 From the wicked who oppress me, My deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.

11 They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

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

13 Arise, Yahweh, Confront him, cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;

14 From men by your hand, Yahweh, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, Whose belly you fill with your treasure: They are satisfied with children, Leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

Psalms 17:7-15 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.