Focused Passage

Psalms 17:1-5

Vindication, Refuge, and Satisfaction in God’s Face

The psalm moves from an appeal for righteous vindication and divine examination, to a plea for kept steps and refuge under God’s wings, to a description of violent enemies, and finally to a contrast between worldly people satisfied with this life and David’s hope of satisfaction in God’s face.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

A prayer of David.

1 Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit.

2 May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.

3 You 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.

4 As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Psalms 145:18 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 20:15 Classic cross-references Psalms 142:6 Classic cross-references Psalms 61:1 Classic cross-references John 4:23 Classic cross-references

Original words

Hear שִׁמְעָ֤ה H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular O LORD יְהוָ֨ה׀ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular my righteous plea צֶ֗דֶק H6664 Noun - masculine singular listen הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה H7181 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular to my cry רִנָּתִ֗י H7440 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Give ear הַאֲזִ֥ינָה H238 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular to my prayer תְפִלָּתִ֑י H8605 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular [it comes] from lips שִׂפְתֵ֥י H8193 Noun - feminine dual construct free of בְּ֝לֹ֗א H3808 Preposition-b | Adverb - Negative particle deceit מִרְמָֽה׃ H4820 Noun - feminine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Psalms 37:6 Classic cross-references 2 Thessalonians 1:6 Classic cross-references Psalms 71:2 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 18:25 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 18:29 Classic cross-references

Original words

May my vindication מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י H4941 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular come יֵצֵ֑א H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular from Your presence מִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָ H6440 Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular may Your eyes עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ H5869 Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular see תֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָה H2372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural what is right מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ H4339 Noun - masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

Psalms 139:1 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 8:3 Classic cross-references Job 23:10 Classic cross-references Psalms 139:24 Classic cross-references Psalms 16:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

You have tried בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּ H974 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular my heart לִבִּ֨י׀ H3820 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular You have visited פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּ H6485 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular [me] in the night לַּ֗יְלָה H3915 Noun - masculine singular You have tested me צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי H6884 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular and found תִּמְצָ֑א H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular no [evil] בַל־ H1077 Adverb I have resolved זַ֝מֹּתִ֗י H2161 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular not בַּל־ H1077 Adverb to sin יַעֲבָר־ H5674 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular with my mouth פִּֽי׃ H6310 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Galatians 5:19 Classic cross-references 1 John 4:5 Classic cross-references Psalms 18:21 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 3:3 Classic cross-references 1 John 5:18 Classic cross-references

Original words

As for the deeds לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת H6468 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct of men אָ֭דָם H120 Noun - masculine singular by the word בִּדְבַ֣ר H1697 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Your lips שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ H8193 Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singular I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular have avoided שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי H8104 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular the ways אָרְח֥וֹת H734 Noun - common plural construct of the violent פָּרִֽיץ׃ H6530 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

Jeremiah 10:23 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:133 Classic cross-references Psalms 37:23 Classic cross-references Psalms 44:18 Classic cross-references Psalms 51:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

My steps אֲ֭שֻׁרַי H838 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular have held תָּמֹ֣ךְ H8551 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute to Your paths בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ H4570 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular my feet פְעָמָֽי׃ H6471 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular have not בַּל־ H1077 Adverb slipped נָמ֥וֹטּוּ H4131 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural

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