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.

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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

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

Original words

Hearשִׁמְעָ֤הH8085Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularO LORDיְהוָ֨ה׀H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularmy righteous pleaצֶ֗דֶקH6664Noun - masculine singularlistenהַקְשִׁ֥יבָהH7181Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularto my cryרִנָּתִ֗יH7440Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularGive earהַאֲזִ֥ינָהH238Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularto my prayerתְפִלָּתִ֑יH8605Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular[it comes] from lipsשִׂפְתֵ֥יH8193Noun - feminine dual constructfree ofבְּ֝לֹ֗אH3808Preposition-b | Adverb - Negative particledeceitמִרְמָֽה׃H4820Noun - feminine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

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

Original words

May my vindicationמִשְׁפָּטִ֣יH4941Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularcomeיֵצֵ֑אH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularfrom Your presenceמִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָH6440Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularmay Your eyesעֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָH5869Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularseeתֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָהH2372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine pluralwhat is rightמֵישָׁרִֽים׃H4339Noun - masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

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

Original words

You have triedבָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּH974Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularmy heartלִבִּ֨י׀H3820Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularYou have visitedפָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּH6485Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular[me] in the nightלַּ֗יְלָהH3915Noun - masculine singularYou have tested meצְרַפְתַּ֥נִיH6884Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularand foundתִּמְצָ֑אH4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularno [evil]בַל־H1077AdverbI have resolvedזַ֝מֹּתִ֗יH2161Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularnotבַּל־H1077Adverbto sinיַעֲבָר־H5674Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwith my mouthפִּֽי׃H6310Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

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

Original words

As for the deedsלִפְעֻלּ֣וֹתH6468Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural constructof menאָ֭דָםH120Noun - masculine singularby the wordבִּדְבַ֣רH1697Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof Your lipsשְׂפָתֶ֑יךָH8193Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singularIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularhave avoidedשָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּיH8104Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularthe waysאָרְח֥וֹתH734Noun - common plural constructof the violentפָּרִֽיץ׃H6530Noun - masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

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

Original words

My stepsאֲ֭שֻׁרַיH838Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singularhave heldתָּמֹ֣ךְH8551Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteto Your pathsבְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָH4570Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singularmy feetפְעָמָֽי׃H6471Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singularhave notבַּל־H1077Adverbslippedנָמ֥וֹטּוּH4131Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural

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