1 A Prayer. Of David. Let my cause come to your ears, O Lord, give attention to my cry; give ear to my prayer which goes not out from false lips. 2 Be my judge; for your eyes see what is right. 3 You have put my heart to the test, searching me in the night; you have put me to the test and seen no evil purpose in me; I will keep my mouth from sin. 4 As for the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. 5 I have kept my feet in your ways, my steps have not been turned away. 6 My cry has gone up to you, for you will give me an answer, O God: let your ear be turned to me, and give attention to my words. 7 Make clear the wonder of your mercy, O saviour of those who put their faith in your right hand, from those who come out against them. 8 Keep me as the light of your eyes, covering me with the shade of your wings, 9 From the evil-doers who are violent to me, and from those who are round me, desiring my death. 10 They are shut up in their fat: with their mouths they say words of pride. 11 They have made a circle round our steps: their eyes are fixed on us, forcing us down to the earth; 12 Like a lion desiring its food, and like a young lion waiting in secret places. 13 Up! Lord, come out against him, make him low, with your sword be my saviour from the evil-doer. 14 With your hand, O Lord, from men, even men of the world, whose heritage is in this life, and whom you make full with your secret wealth: they are full of children; after their death their offspring take the rest of their goods. 15 As for me, I will see your face in righteousness: when I am awake it will be joy enough for me to see your form.
Psalms · Bible in Basic English
Psalm 17 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
Cross references (15)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Psalm 142:6; Psalm 61:1; Psalm 145:18; Matthew 15:8; Daniel 9:18–19
- 2 Psalm 37:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:6–9; Ezekiel 18:25; Ezekiel 18:29; Jude 24
- 3 Job 23:10; Psalm 26:2; Acts 11:23; Psalm 39:1; Malachi 3:2
- 4 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Psalm 119:9–11; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 4:7
- 5 Psalm 44:18; Psalm 119:133; 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 121:3; Psalm 121:7
- 6 Psalm 116:2; Psalm 86:7; Psalm 88:2; Psalm 66:19–20; Psalm 55:16
- 7 Psalm 60:5; Psalm 5:11–12; Psalm 31:21; Psalm 20:6; Isaiah 41:10
- 8 Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 91:4; Psalm 91:1; Proverbs 7:2; Zechariah 2:8
- 9 Psalm 35:4; Psalm 35:7; Psalm 7:5; Psalm 31:20; Psalm 35:12
- 10 1 Samuel 2:3; Psalm 123:4; Psalm 31:18; Revelation 13:5–6; Matthew 13:15
- 11 Proverbs 6:13–14; Psalm 37:14; Psalm 10:8–10; 1 Samuel 26:2–3; 1 Samuel 23:26
- 12 Psalm 7:2; Psalm 10:9; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:17; Psalm 22:13
- 13 Psalm 3:7; Psalm 44:26; Psalm 7:6; Psalm 44:23; Psalm 7:11–13
- 14 Job 22:18; John 17:14; John 8:23; Psalm 49:17–19; Luke 16:8
- 15 2 Corinthians 3:18; Matthew 5:6; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 11:7; 1 John 3:2–3
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Our King in this Psalm speaks in the character of the human nature He assumed, of whom the royal title at the time of His passion was eminently set forth. 2. Now He saith as follows; "Preserve me, O Lord, for in Thee have I hoped" (ver.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
The same form of speech is found in the psalm: "I have called upon Thee, for Thou hast heard me, O God," where we should expect it to be said, Thou hast heard me, O God, for I have called upon Thee.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Some have thought that God is fire; others that He is, as it were, a man with wings, because of a true text ill understood, Thou shalt hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… supposed from such language that man in the form of this flesh is made in the image of God, wings also are ascribed to Him, which man has not at all; and it is said to God, "Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings," that men may understand that such things are said of that ineffable nature not in …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Whence it is said in the Psalms, "Keep me under the shadow of Thy wings." But as to others who in the day of judgment shall repent, but all too late, and who shall mourn, yet unavailingly, it hath been foretold by Wisdom what they shall then say as they repent and groan for anguish of spirit, "What hath pride …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)