Psalms 17

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 17

1¶ A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips.

2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited [me] in the night; thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I am purposed [that] my mouth shall not transgress.

4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths of the destroyer.

5Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not.

6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and] hear my speech.

7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them].

8¶ Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9From the wicked that oppress me, [from] my deadly enemies, [who] compass me about.

10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

11They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12Like as a lion [that] is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

13Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, [which is] thy sword:

14From men [which are] thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [which have] their portion in [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their babes.

15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

David prays to God for justice and protection, asserting his blamelessness before the Lord. He describes his wicked enemies who relentlessly pursue him, contrasting their earthly prosperity with his own spiritual hope. David concludes by expressing his desire to behold God's face in righteousness and be satisfied with His likeness.

Medium Summary

In this prayer, David appeals to the Lord for a righteous judgment, affirming his integrity and sincerity of heart. He states that God has tested him and found no transgression, and that he has diligently followed God's word to avoid evil paths. David expresses confidence that God will hear him and asks for divine protection, requesting to be guarded as "the apple of the eye" and hidden "under the shadow of thy wings." He then vividly describes his adversaries as proud, oppressive, and relentless, likening them to a lion lying in wait for prey. David implores God to intervene and deliver him from these worldly men, whose sole portion is in this life. His prayer culminates in a declaration of his ultimate hope: to behold God's face in righteousness and be satisfied with His likeness upon awakening.

Long Summary

Psalm 17 opens with David's earnest plea to the Lord, asking for a hearing of his righteous prayer that proceeds from sincere lips. He seeks divine judgment, desiring that God's eyes behold what is just and equal. David asserts his blamelessness, testifying that God has thoroughly examined his heart, even in the night, and found no transgression; he is resolved that his mouth will not sin. He further declares that by adhering to God's word, he has successfully avoided the destructive paths of wicked men. David then petitions God to uphold his steps, ensuring his feet do not slip from the righteous path. Expressing profound trust, he calls upon God, confident that the Lord will incline His ear and hear his speech. He requests a manifestation of God's "marvellous lovingkindness," asking for deliverance from those who rise against him, saved by God's mighty right hand. David implores God to protect him with utmost care, "as the apple of the eye," and to hide him securely "under the shadow of thy wings." He then vividly portrays his adversaries: wicked, oppressive, and deadly enemies who surround him. These foes are described as being "inclosed in their own fat" and speaking proudly, relentlessly pursuing him like a hungry lion. David cries out for God to arise, disappoint his enemies, and cast them down, asking for his soul to be delivered from these wicked individuals, whom he identifies as God's "sword" or "hand." He distinguishes these "men of the world" as those whose portion is solely in this earthly life, filled with temporal treasures and leaving their substance to their children. In stark contrast, David concludes with a profound declaration of his ultimate hope: to behold God's face in righteousness and to be fully satisfied "when I awake, with thy likeness."

Core Concepts

  • Integrity and SincerityDavid asserts his blamelessness and sincerity of heart before God, stating that God has tested him and found no transgression, and his prayer comes from "not out of feigned lips."
  • Divine ProtectionDavid repeatedly seeks God's safeguarding, asking to be kept "as the apple of the eye" and hidden "under the shadow of thy wings" from his enemies.
  • Nature of the WickedThe psalm describes David's enemies as proud, oppressive, and worldly, focused on earthly prosperity ("inclosed in their own fat") and relentlessly pursuing him like a predatory lion.
  • God's Sovereignty over AdversariesDavid refers to his enemies as God's "sword" or "hand," implying that even the wicked are instruments, albeit unrighteous ones, within God's larger plan.
  • Contrast of Worldly vs. Spiritual HopeThe psalm sharply contrasts the "men of the world" who have their portion in this life with David's ultimate hope to "behold thy face in righteousness" and be satisfied with God's likeness.
  • Righteous JudgmentDavid's prayer begins with a plea for God to hear his "right" and for his "sentence" to come forth from God's presence, indicating a desire for divine justice against his oppressors.