Psalms Chapter 17 — A Prayer for Protection
This chapter is a prayer for protection where the speaker asks God to listen to a righteous cause and deliver them from wicked enemies.
1Hear, LORD, my righteous plea.
2Let my sentence come out of your presence.
3You have proved my heart.
4As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips,
5My steps have held fast to your paths.
6I have called on you, for you will answer me, God.
7Show your marvelous loving kindness,
8Keep me as the apple of your eye.
9from the wicked who oppress me,
10They close up their callous hearts.
11They have now surrounded us in our steps.
12He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey,
13Arise, LORD, confront him.
14from men by your hand, LORD,
15As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 17:8
“Keep me as the apple of your eye.”
This verse uses a famous metaphor for being precious and uniquely protected by God.
Psalms 17:15
“As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.”
This concluding statement expresses the speaker's ultimate hope and satisfaction in God's presence.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 17 is an individual lament and a prayer for protection. The speaker begins by pleading with God to hear a righteous cause and examine their heart, asserting that they have followed God's ways and avoided the paths of the violent. The psalmist asks for God's marvelous loving kindness and protection, using the metaphor of being kept as the "apple of your eye." The text describes enemies who are callous and surround the speaker like a lion ready for prey. The prayer concludes with a request for God to arise and confront these enemies, contrasting the worldly portion of the wicked with the speaker's own hope to see God's face in righteousness upon awakening.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main request is for God to hear a righteous plea and provide protection from wicked enemies who surround the speaker. The psalmist asks for deliverance from those who seek to cause harm.
This phrase refers to the pupil of the eye, which is a sensitive and highly protected part of the body. In this context, it is a metaphor asking God to guard the speaker with the same care and urgency one uses to protect their own sight.
The enemies are described as callous people who surround the speaker's steps. They are compared to a greedy lion lurking in secret places, waiting to catch its prey.
Study Note
Psalm 17 is formally classified as a 'Tephillah' (prayer), emphasizing a personal and urgent appeal to God for justice based on the speaker's integrity.
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