Psalms 17

David in Confidence that his uprightness and innocence was well known unto God, prayeth for preservation and protection against his persecutors, who by reason of their temporal felicity here on earth, did most tyrannously oppress the innocent: and comforteth himself in Gods salvation, and the blessed hope of life eternal.

1. A Prayer of David, Lord hear the righteousness [i.e. own (or receive) my righteous cause, or hear me, that have a righteous cause] attend unto my cry, take to ears my prayer (uttered) with unfained lips. [Hebr. With no lips of deceit.]

2. Let my right go forth from before thy face; [As if he said, pronounce one sentence publicly upon my cause, and bear me out in it, for as much as mine innocence is fully known unto thee as followeth. Compare Psalms 37:6.] let thine eyes regard the equity. [Hebr. The rightnesses, or straightnesses, i.e. the equity or equitableness; or the justice and reasonableness of my cause; as elsewhere, compare Prov.1.on v.3.]

3. Thou hast tried my heart, [A comparison taken from the practise of Goldsmiths, or, refiners. See Psalm 7.on v.10. and 66.v.10. Zach.13.9.] visited (it)by night, thou hast touched me, thou findest nothing: [viz.no dross, i.e. no wrong, in justice or deceit, which I should aim at in my cause, or suffering, as followeth] (that which) I have thought my mouth doth not transgress. [i.e. my mouth uttereth nothing otherwise, than my heart conceiveth it. Oth. I have purposed, or, resolved (that) my mouth shall not transgress.

4. Concerning the dealing of man, I have according to the words of thy lips, [i.e. According to the command and charge of thy word. Others join these words unto the precedent, thus, Concerning the dealing of man according to the word of thy lips, etc. i.e. which men are bound to do in pursuance of thy word and command] watched my self from the paths [Or, I have taken heed of the path, &c. Viz. To avoid and eschew the same; though mine enemies do falsely charge me with the contrary] of Robber [Refractor, irrupt or, i.e. the violent man, the oppressor, high-way-robber, murderer; by comparing Jer..7.11. and Matth.21.13. Heb. Properly, breakers through, or, breakers in, irrupters, viz. Of houses, towns, countries, laws, &c. See Ezek.7.22. and 18.10. Hosea 4:2.]

5. Keeping my goings [Oth. Keep (O LORD) my etc.] in thy tracks, [directing the course of my life according to thy commandments] that my footsteps may not waver.

6. I call upon thee, because thou hearest me, O God: encline thine ear unto me, hear my speaking.

7. make thy kindnesses wonderful, [David implyeth hereby, that he was in such danger and distress, that he could not be perserved without a wonderful help of the LORD] thou that savest those which trust (in thee) from those that rise up against thy right hand: [wherewith thou doest protects and deliver thy people. Oth. thou that with thy right hand deliverest those that trust (in thee) from those rise up (against them.)

8. Keep me as the black of the apple of the eye; [Heb. Of the daughter of the eye. Compare Deut.31.verse 10. And see the annotation there] hide me under the shadow of thy wings. [Compare Ruth 2.on v.12.]

9. Before the face of the wicked, [Or, because of the wicked] that waste me: of my mortal enemies, that surround me. [Heb. Enemies in, (or, with) the soul, i.e. which do hate me mortally, from the very in most of their hearts. Oth. Against the soul, i.e. which seek to take away my life from me.]

10. They shut up [i.e. cover] (themselves) with their fat; Compare Job 15.on verse 27. And Psalms 73:7.] with their mouth they speak proudly. [Hebr. In pride, or haughtiness.]

11. They have now encompassed us in our walk, [See 1 Samuel 23:8. and 24.3. and 25.26. and 26.2,3.] they set their eyes (upon) bowing down to the ground. [lurking for me, and mine, like a Lion for the prey. See the next verse, and Psalm 10.on verse 10.]

12. He is like Lion, [Heb. His resemblance, or likeness, is, etc. i.e. the likeness of every one of them; or, of their chief Leader] that is greedy to prey, and as a young Lion, sitting in hidden places.

13. Arise, LORD, [See Psalm 3.on verse 8.] prevent his face, cast him down, rescue my soul, [i.e. fell thou him down, or defeat him, before he fall upon me] with thy word from the wicked: [Oth. From the wicked, (That is) thy word, i.e. by whose sword thou doest exercise and prove me; and so in the next verse, (Which are) thine hand.]

14. With thy hand from the men (ab hominibus) O LORD, from the men that are of the world, whose portion is in this life; [See the contrary, Psalms 16:5, etc. And in the next verse here] whose belly thou fillest with thy hidden (treasure); [i.e. with all manner of abundance and dainties of meat and drink, which are called Gods hidden as it were in Gods air, and earth and water, and by his providence are produced and brought forth, out of, or from within and under them] The children are satisfied, [Oth. They abound with children] and they leave their over plus [Or, their superfluity, abundance, glory] behind to their little children. [See Psalm 8.on verse 3.]

15. (But) I shall behold thy face in righteousness, [Compare above Psa.7,8. And 16.11. with the annot. Item, 1 Cor.13.12. 2 Cor.5.7. 1 John 3:2.] I shall be satisfied with thine image [or, likeness:] when I shall awake. [Oth. I shall be satisfied, when I shall awake (with) thy image, or likeness. See 1 Cor.15.49. 1 John 3:2.]