Psalm 17
BSB
Hear My Righteous Plea
A prayer of David.
1Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it comes from lips free of deceit.
2May my vindication come from Your presence;
may Your eyes see what is right.
3You have tried my heart;
You have visited me in the night.
You have tested me and found no evil;
I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
4As for the deeds of men—
by the word of Your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5My steps have held to Your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6I call on You, O God,
for You will answer me.
Incline Your ear to me;
hear my words.
7Show the wonders of Your loving devotion,
You who save by Your right hand
those who seek refuge from their foes.
8Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10They have closed their callous hearts;
their mouths speak with arrogance.
11They have tracked us down, and now surround us;
their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,
12like a lion greedy for prey,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13Arise, O LORD, confront them!
Bring them to their knees;
deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
14from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life.
May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons,
so they leave their abundance to their children.
15As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.
Introduction
Psalms 17
David being in great distress and danger by the malice of his enemies, does, in this psalm, by prayer address himself to God, his tried refuge, and seeks shelter in him. I. He appeals to God concerning his integrity (Psa 17:1-4). II. He prays to God still to be upheld in his integrity and preserved from the malice of his enemies (Psa 17:5-8, Psa 17:13). III. He gives a character of his enemies, using that as a plea with God for his preservation (Psa 17:9-12, Psa 17:14). IV. He comforts himself with the hopes of his future happiness (Psa 17:15). Some make him, in this, a type of Christ, who was perfectly innocent, and yet was hated and persecuted, but, like David, committed himself and his cause to him that judgeth righteously.
A prayer of David.
Cross-references: Ps 17:1 · Ps 17:5 · Ps 17:13 · Ps 17:9 · Ps 17:14 · Ps 17:15