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Psalms 17

BSB·15 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Hearשִׁמְעָ֤הšim·‘āh — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֨ה׀Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, my righteous pleaצֶ֗דֶקṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study →; listenהַקְשִׁ֥יבָהhaq·šî·ḇāh — To listen attentively; to give heedH7181 — Full Word Study → to my cryרִנָּתִ֗יrin·nā·ṯî — joyful cry, shout of rejoicingH7440 — Full Word Study →. Give earהַאֲזִ֥ינָהha·’ă·zî·nāh — to listen, give ear, hear attentivelyH238 — Full Word Study → to my prayerתְפִלָּתִ֑יṯə·p̄il·lā·ṯî — Prayer; formal or spontaneous petition to GodH8605 — Full Word Study →— it comes from lips free ofבְּ֝לֹ֗אbə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → deceitמִרְמָֽה׃mir·māh — deceit, treachery, or cunning deceptionH4820 — Full Word Study →. 2May my vindicationמִשְׁפָּטִ֣יmiš·pā·ṭî — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study → comeיֵצֵ֑אyê·ṣê — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → from Your presenceמִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָmil·lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →; may Your eyesעֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ‘ê·ne·ḵā — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → seeתֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָהte·ḥĕ·ze·nāh — to see, behold, perceive, or prophesyH2372 — Full Word Study → what is rightמֵישָׁרִֽים׃mê·šā·rîm — Uprightness, righteousness, equityH4339 — Full Word Study →. 3You have triedבָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּbā·ḥan·tā — to test, examine, or prove through trialH974 — Full Word Study → my heartלִבִּ֨י׀lib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →; You have visitedפָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּpā·qaḏ·tā — to visit, oversee, appoint, care forH6485 — Full Word Study → me in the night. You have tested meצְרַפְתַּ֥נִיṣə·rap̄·ta·nî — to refine, purify, test by fireH6884 — Full Word Study → and foundתִּמְצָ֑אtim·ṣā — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → no evil; I have resolvedזַ֝מֹּתִ֗יzam·mō·ṯî — to plan, devise, or schemeH2161 — Full Word Study → notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → to sinיַעֲבָר־ya·‘ă·ḇār- — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → with my mouthפִּֽי׃pî — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →. 4As for the deedsלִפְעֻלּ֣וֹתlip̄·‘ul·lō·wṯ — Wages, payment for labor, reward for workH6468 — Full Word Study → of menאָ֭דָם’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study →by the wordבִּדְבַ֣רbiḏ·ḇar — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → of Your lipsשְׂפָתֶ֑יךָśə·p̄ā·ṯe·ḵā — Lips; edge, border, or shoreH8193 — Full Word Study → Iאֲנִ֥י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → have avoidedשָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּיšā·mar·tî — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study → the waysאָרְח֥וֹת’ā·rə·ḥō·wṯ — Way, path, or manner of travelingH734 — Full Word Study → of the violentפָּרִֽיץ׃pā·rîṣ — violent person, ruthless aggressor, one who destroysH6530 — Full Word Study →. 5My stepsאֲ֭שֻׁרַי’ă·šu·ray — A step; a footfall or pace in walkingH838 — Full Word Study → have heldתָּמֹ֣ךְtā·mōḵ — to grasp, hold, or sustainH8551 — Full Word Study → to Your pathsבְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָbə·ma‘·gə·lō·w·ṯe·ḵā — Track, path, or course of travelH4570 — Full Word Study →; my feetפְעָמָֽי׃p̄ə·‘ā·māy — time, occasion, or instance of occurrenceH6471 — Full Word Study → have notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → slippedנָמ֥וֹטּוּnā·mō·wṭ·ṭū — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study →. 6Iאֲנִֽי־’ă·nî- — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → call on Youקְרָאתִ֣יךָqə·rā·ṯî·ḵā — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֵ֑ל’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →, forכִֽי־ḵî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You will answer meתַעֲנֵ֣נִיṯa·‘ă·nê·nî — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study →. Inclineהַֽט־haṭ- — to stretch out, extend, incline, bendH5186 — Full Word Study → Your earאָזְנְךָ֥’ā·zə·nə·ḵā — Ear; the organ of hearing and listeningH241 — Full Word Study → to me; hearשְׁמַ֣עšə·ma‘ — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → my wordsאִמְרָתִֽי׃’im·rā·ṯî — A spoken word, utterance, or divine sayingH565 — Full Word Study →. 7Show the wondersהַפְלֵ֣הhap̄·lêh — to distinguish, set apart, make separateH6395 — Full Word Study → of Your loving devotionחֲ֭סָדֶיךָḥă·sā·ḏe·ḵā — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study →, You who saveמוֹשִׁ֣יעַmō·wō·šî·a‘ — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → by Your right handבִּֽימִינֶֽךָ׃bî·mî·ne·ḵā — right hand, right side, southH3225 — Full Word Study → those who seek refugeחוֹסִ֑יםḥō·w·sîm — To take refuge; to seek shelter or safetyH2620 — Full Word Study → from their foesמִ֝מִּתְקוֹמְמִ֗יםmim·miṯ·qō·wm·mîm — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →. 8Keep meשָׁ֭מְרֵנִיšā·mə·rē·nî — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study → as the appleכְּאִישׁ֣וֹןkə·’î·šō·wn — pupil of the eye; apple of the eyeH380 — Full Word Study → ofבַּת־baṯ- — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study → Your eyeעָ֑יִן‘ā·yin — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →; hide meתַּסְתִּירֵֽנִי׃tas·tî·rê·nî — To hide, conceal, or keep secretH5641 — Full Word Study → in the shadowבְּצֵ֥לbə·ṣêl — shadow; protection; shelterH6738 — Full Word Study → of Your wingsכְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָkə·nā·p̄e·ḵā — wing; edge, border, cornerH3671 — Full Word Study → 9fromמִפְּנֵ֣יmip·pə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → the wickedרְ֭שָׁעִיםrə·šā·‘îm — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → whoז֣וּzū — This, that (demonstrative pronoun)H2098 — Full Word Study → assail meשַׁדּ֑וּנִיšad·dū·nî — to destroy, ruin, or devastate violentlyH7703 — Full Word Study →, from my mortalבְּ֝נֶ֗פֶשׁbə·ne·p̄eš — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → enemiesאֹיְבַ֥י’ō·yə·ḇay — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → who surround meיַקִּ֥יפוּyaq·qî·p̄ū — to encircle, surround, or strike downH5362 — Full Word Study →. 10They have closedסָּגְר֑וּsā·ḡə·rū — to shut, close, or encloseH5462 — Full Word Study → their callous hearts; their mouthsפִּ֝֗ימוֹpî·mōw — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study → speakדִּבְּר֥וּdib·bə·rū — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → with arroganceבְגֵאֽוּת׃ḇə·ḡê·’ūṯ — Majesty, pride, or exaltation; splendor and excellenceH1348 — Full Word Study →. 11They have tracked us downאַ֭שֻּׁרֵינוּ’aš·šu·rê·nū — A step; a footfall or pace in walkingH838 — Full Word Study →, and nowעַתָּ֣ה‘at·tāh — Now; at the present timeH6258 — Full Word Study → surround usסְבָבוּנִיsə·ḇå̄·ḇū·nī — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study →; their eyesעֵינֵיהֶ֥ם‘ê·nê·hem — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → are setיָ֝שִׁ֗יתוּyā·šî·ṯū — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → to cast us to the groundבָּאָֽרֶץ׃bā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, 12like a lionכְּ֭אַרְיֵהkə·’ar·yêh — A lion; fierce predatorH738 — Full Word Study → greedyיִכְס֣וֹףyiḵ·sō·wp̄ — to long for, yearn, desire intenselyH3700 — Full Word Study → for preyלִטְר֑וֹףliṭ·rō·wp̄ — To tear, rend, or devour preyH2963 — Full Word Study →, like a young lionוְ֝כִכְפִ֗ירwə·ḵiḵ·p̄îr — Young lion; fierce strength and dangerH3715 — Full Word Study → lurkingיֹשֵׁ֥בyō·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → in ambushבְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃bə·mis·tā·rîm — A hiding place; secret location or concealmentH4565 — Full Word Study →. 13Ariseקוּמָ֤הqū·māh — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, confrontקַדְּמָ֣הqad·də·māh — to meet, come before, prevent, anticipateH6923 — Full Word Study → themפָ֭נָיוp̄ā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →! Bring them to their kneesהַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּhaḵ·rî·‘ê·hū — to bow down, kneel, or fall to the groundH3766 — Full Word Study →; deliverפַּלְּטָ֥הpal·lə·ṭāh — to escape, slip away, deliver safelyH6403 — Full Word Study → meנַ֝פְשִׁ֗יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → from the wickedמֵרָשָׁ֥עmê·rā·šā‘ — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → by Your swordחַרְבֶּֽךָ׃ḥar·be·ḵā — sword; blade weaponH2719 — Full Word Study →, 14from such menמִֽמְתִ֥יםmim·ṯîm — man, person, or men (collective)H4962 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֡הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, by Your handיָדְךָ֨׀yā·ḏə·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →from menמִֽמְתִ֬יםmim·ṯîm — man, person, or men (collective)H4962 — Full Word Study → of the worldמֵחֶ֗לֶדmê·ḥe·leḏ — lifetime, age, world, temporal durationH2465 — Full Word Study → whose portionחֶלְקָ֥םḥel·qām — portion, allotment, flatteryH2506 — Full Word Study → is in this lifeבַּֽחַיִּים֮ba·ḥay·yîm — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →. May You fillתְּמַלֵּ֪אtə·mal·lê — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → the belliesבִ֫טְנָ֥םḇiṭ·nām — belly; womb; interior of the bodyH990 — Full Word Study → of Your treasured ones and satisfyיִשְׂבְּע֥וּyiś·bə·‘ū — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → their sonsבָנִ֑יםḇā·nîm — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →, so they leaveוְהִנִּ֥יחוּwə·hin·nî·ḥū — To rest, cease, or remain in a state of quietnessH5117 — Full Word Study → their abundanceיִ֝תְרָ֗םyiṯ·rām — remainder, excess, superiorityH3499 — Full Word Study → to their childrenלְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם׃lə·‘ō·wl·lê·hem — Infant, young child, babeH5768 — Full Word Study →. 15As for meאֲנִ֗י’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study →, I will beholdאֶחֱזֶ֣ה’e·ḥĕ·zeh — to see, behold, perceive, or prophesyH2372 — Full Word Study → Your faceפָנֶ֑יךָp̄ā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → in righteousnessבְּ֭צֶדֶקbə·ṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study →; when I awakeבְ֝הָקִ֗יץḇə·hā·qîṣ — to awake, arise from sleep or inactivityH6974 — Full Word Study →, I will be satisfiedאֶשְׂבְּעָ֥ה’eś·bə·‘āh — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → in Your presenceתְּמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃tə·mū·nā·ṯe·ḵā — Visual form, likeness, appearanceH8544 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 17
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 17 is a prayer of lament and vindication in which David appeals to God as his righteous judge against his enemies. Written in a time of personal crisis and persecution, David makes an earnest plea for God's intervention, grounding his petition in his own integrity before the Lord. The psalm moves from David's confident appeal for justice (verses 1-5), through his request for divine protection (verses 6-12), to his plea for God's judgment on the wicked (verses 13-14), and concludes with his supreme hope in God's presence (verse 15). Throughout, the psalmist demonstrates absolute confidence that God sees the heart and will vindicate the righteous.

Verses 1-5: A Prayer for Righteous Judgment

David opens with an urgent appeal: "Hear the right, O LORD" (v. 1). He is not asking God to show favoritism, but to hear his case justly. His prayer comes from honest lips—"not out of feigned lips"—indicating sincerity and truth-telling before God. In verse 2, David requests that God's judgment come from His presence and that God's eyes behold what is equal and fair. This reflects David's confidence in God's perfect justice and omniscience.

Verses 3-4 reveal David's self-examination. He has allowed God to test and prove his heart (v. 3), and he has deliberately kept himself from wickedness through obedience to God's Word (v. 4). The phrase "by the word of thy lips I have kept me" shows that David's moral integrity flows from his devotion to God's commands. In verse 5, he asks God to sustain him as he walks in God's paths, recognizing his dependence on divine strength to remain upright.

Application: Like David, we are invited to approach God with honest hearts, knowing He searches our motives. Our righteousness is never self-earned; it flows from trusting God's Word and submitting to His direction. When facing opposition, we can appeal to God with confidence if our foundation is genuine faith in Him.

Verses 6-12: A Prayer for Protection

David's confidence in God's hearing (v. 6) transitions to his request for protection. In verse 7, he asks God to show His "marvellous lovingkindness" (the Hebrew word chesed, meaning steadfast covenant love) toward those who trust Him and are threatened by enemies. The beautiful metaphor in verse 8—"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings"—expresses intimate divine care. The apple of the eye represents something precious and carefully guarded; the shadow of wings evokes the protective imagery of God's presence (see also Psalm 91:4).

Verses 9-12 describe the enemies graphically: they are spiritually hardened (v. 10), hostile pursuers (v. 11), and dangerous hunters like lions (v. 12). Yet these vivid descriptions of threat serve to highlight the greatness of God's protective power.

Application: In seasons of opposition or pressure, we find refuge not in our own strength but in God's tender, powerful care. Like the psalmist, we may face real enemies—whether spiritual opposition, persecution, or inner struggles—but God's protective love is nearer than we often realize.

Verses 13-15: A Prayer for Vindication and Eternal Hope

David calls on God to act decisively: "Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down" (v. 13). He asks for deliverance from wicked people and prays that God's judgment fall upon those who live only for earthly pleasures (v. 14), having no hope beyond this life.

The psalm concludes with a stunning promise (v. 15): "I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." This is David's ultimate hope—not merely earthly vindication, but eternal fellowship with God Himself, being transformed into His likeness. This verse beautifully anticipates the resurrection and heaven.

Application: Our deepest satisfaction comes not from defeating enemies or gaining earthly success, but from knowing God's face and being conformed to Christ's image. This eternal perspective enables patience in present struggles.

Application for Today

Psalm 17 teaches us to bring honest prayers before a just God, to seek His protection through trust rather than self-defense, and to anchor our hope ultimately in the promise of seeing God's face. Whether facing genuine persecution or simply the daily pressures of living faithfully, we may pray with David's confidence, knowing that God sees our hearts and will vindicate His own.

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