Read & explore together
Hear My Righteous Plea
Psalm 17 is a prayer-poem asking Yahweh to hear, judge fairly, and protect. The speaker appeals to God on the basis of honest speech, careful conduct, and confidence that God sees both danger and righteousness.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this psalm, the speaker addresses Yahweh directly throughout. He asks to be heard, says God has tested his heart, describes violent and proud enemies surrounding him, and ends by contrasting their present portion with his hope of seeing God’s face in righteousness.
Psalms 17:1–15Main takeaway
This passage teaches that the speaker brings his plea to Yahweh with honesty, asks for protection from wicked enemies, and finds his deepest satisfaction in seeing God in righteousness.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A plea to be heard fairlyThe psalm opens with direct requests: hear, give ear, and look on equity. The speaker says his prayer is not from deceitful lips and asks for a sentence from God’s presence.
Explanation
The psalm opens with direct requests: hear, give ear, and look on equity. The speaker says his prayer is not from deceitful lips and asks for a sentence from God’s presence. This presents God as the one who hears and judges rightly, not merely the one who listens politely.
02A tested life and guarded stepsThe speaker says God has proved his heart, visited him in the night, and found nothing. He has resolved that his mouth will not disobey.
Explanation
The speaker says God has proved his heart, visited him in the night, and found nothing. He has resolved that his mouth will not disobey. By the word of God’s lips he has kept from violent ways, and his feet have held fast to God’s paths without slipping.
03A cry for close protectionBecause God answers, the speaker calls on him again. He asks for marvellous loving kindness and refuge from enemies.
Explanation
Because God answers, the speaker calls on him again. He asks for marvellous loving kindness and refuge from enemies. Two vivid pictures follow: being kept as the apple of God’s eye and hidden under the shadow of God’s wings. These images express precious care and shelter.
04Enemies, danger, and final hopeThe wicked oppress, surround, speak proudly, and are compared to a lion waiting for prey. So the speaker asks Yahweh to arise and deliver him.
Explanation
The wicked oppress, surround, speak proudly, and are compared to a lion waiting for prey. So the speaker asks Yahweh to arise and deliver him. He then contrasts men whose portion is in this life with his own hope: to see God’s face in righteousness and be satisfied when he awakes.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does the speaker give for asking Yahweh to hear him?
Look for statements about truthful lips, God testing his heart, and his choice to avoid violent ways.
02Which images describe God’s protection, and what do they add to the prayer?
Notice the pictures of the apple of the eye and the shadow of wings, and connect them to the danger from enemies.
03How does verse 15 differ from the description of ‘men of the world’ in verse 14?
Compare what their portion is with what satisfies the speaker.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 17:1–15
1Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
2Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.
3You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
4As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
5My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
6I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.
7Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
8Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
11They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
12He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
15As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.