1 A Prayer of David. Hearken, O Lord of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not [uttered] with deceitful lips. 2 Let my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness. 3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited [me] by night; thou hast tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me: [I am purposed] that my mouth shall not speak [amiss]. 4 As for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have guarded [myself from] hard ways. 5 Direct my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not. 6 I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words. 7 Shew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering of thy wings, 9 from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul. 10 They have enclosed [themselves with] their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride. 11 They have now cast me out and compassed me round about: they have set their eyes [so as] to bow them down to the ground. 12 They laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling in secret [places]. 13 Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: [draw] thy sword, 14 because of the enemies of thine hand: O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with thy hidden [treasures]: they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant [of their possessions] to their babes. 15 But I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears.
Psalms · Brenton's English Septuagint
Psalm 16 (17) Brenton's English Septuagint
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · Psalm 17 · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- Square brackets mark words Brenton supplied for English sense.
- Old Testament only (no New Testament). First printed 1844; the 1851 edition added the deuterocanonical books.
Cross references (15)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info. References use English (Hebrew-based) verse numbers; links open the passage in Brenton.
- 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). Verse numbers below follow the Hebrew/English numbering: 17.
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)