1 {A Prayer of David.} Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, which is not out of feigned lips.
Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.
{To the chief Musician. On a stringed instrument. [A Psalm] of David.} Hear, O God, my cry; attend unto my prayer.
{An instruction of David; when he was in the cave: a prayer.} I cry unto Jehovah with my voice: with my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness towards God,
This people honour me with the lips, but their heart is far away from me;
Incline thine ear, O my God, and hear; open thine eyes and behold our desolations, and the city that is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee because of our righteousnesses, but because of thy manifold mercies. Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, hearken and do! defer not, for thine own sake, O my God! for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
And the Lord saith, Forasmuch as this people draw near with their mouth, and honour me with their lips, but their heart is removed far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught of men;
Jehovah is nigh unto all that call upon him, unto all that call upon him in truth.
I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted one, the right of the needy.
But God hath heard; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; deliver me from the deceitful and unrighteous man.
At the hearing of the ear, they obey me: strangers come cringing unto me.
Jehovah shall minister judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity which is in me.
Hearken unto the voice of my crying, my king and my God; for to thee will I pray.
Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, confessing the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 17
Commentary on Psalms 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 17
Ps 17:1-15. This Psalm is termed a prayer because the language of petition is predominant. With a just cause, sincerely presented, the writer prays for a just decision and help and protection. Pleading former mercies as a ground of hope, he urges his prayer in view of the malice, pride, rapacity, and selfishness of his foes, whose character is contrasted with his pious devotion and delight in God's favor.
2. sentence—acquitting judgment.
from thy presence—Thy tribunal.
things that are equal—just and right, do Thou regard.
3. proved … visited … tried—His character was most rigidly tested, at all times, and by all methods, affliction and others (Ps 7:10).
purposed that, &c.—or, my mouth does not exceed my purpose; I am sincere.
4. works of men—sinful practices.
by the word of thy lips—as a guide (Ps 119:9, 11, 95).
destroyer—violent man.
5. May be read as an assertion "my steps or goings have held on to Thy paths."
6. wilt hear me—that is, graciously (Ps 3:4).
7. Show—set apart as special and eminent (Ex 8:18; Ps 4:3).
thy right hand—for Thy power.
8. Similar figures, denoting the preciousness of God's people in His sight, in De 32:10, 11; Mt 23:37.
9. compass me—(compare Ps 118:10-12).
10. enclosed … fat—are become proud in prosperity, and insolent to God (De 32:15; Ps 73:7).
11. They pursue us as beasts tracking their prey.
12. The figure made more special by that of a lion lurking.
13-15. disappoint—literally, "come before," or, "encounter him." Supply "with" before "sword" (Ps 17:13), and "hand" (Ps 17:14). These denote God's power.
14. men … world—all men of this present time. They appear, by fulness of bread and large families, to be prosperous; but (Ps 17:15) he implies this will be transient, contrasting his better portion in a joyful union with God hereafter.