[1] Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
The right — Regard my righteous cause.
Verse 2
[2] Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
Sentence — Judgment on my behalf.
Come — From thy tribunal.
Verse 3
[3] Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Proved — Or, searched or tried it, by many temptations and afflictions.
Night — When mens minds being freed from the distraction of business, and from the society of men, they act more vigorously and freely, according to their several inclinations.
Tried — As gold-smiths do metals.
Nothing — Nothing of unrighteousness.
Purposed — I have resolved, upon deliberation, as the word implies.
Mouth — I am so far from practising against Saul's life, as they charge me, that I will not wrong him so much as in a word.
Verse 4
[4] Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
Concerning — Observing the works of the men of this age, how wicked they are, I was resolved to take more care in ordering my own actions.
By — By the help of thy blessed word.
Paths — The customs and practices.
Destroyer — Or, of the violent man: such as Saul, and his courtiers and soldiers.
Verse 7
[7] Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
By — By thy great power.
Verse 10
[10] They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They — They live in splendor and prosperity.
Verse 11
[11] They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
Steps — In all our ways. We go from place to place, to rocks, and caves, and woods; but wheresoever we go they are at hand, and ready to surround us.
Eyes — They keep their eyes fixed upon us.
Bowing — Couching down upon the earth, that they may watch the fittest opportunity to surprize us.
Verse 13
[13] Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Sword — Thy instrument to execute vengeance upon thine enemies. Do not punish me with this rod: let me fall into thy hands, and not into the hands of men.
Verse 14
[14] From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
Thy hand — Wherewith thou dost correct me.
World — Who set their hearts upon this world, and neither have, nor desire any other portion.
Belly — Mind or appetite, as that word is used, Proverbs 20:30.
Treasure — With extraordinary wealth and glory.
Children — When many of thy faithful servants are barren, these are blessed with a numerous posterity.
Verse 15
[15] As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
I will — I do not place my portion in earthly treasures, but in beholding God's face, in the enjoyment of God's presence and favour; which is enjoyed in part in this life, but not fully.
Satisfied — The time is coming, wherein I shall be abundantly satisfied with beholding thy face.
Awake — When I arise from he dead.
Likeness — With the image of God stamped upon my glorified soul.
Psalm 17 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
The right — Regard my righteous cause.
Verse 2
[2] Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
Sentence — Judgment on my behalf.
Come — From thy tribunal.
Verse 3
[3] Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Proved — Or, searched or tried it, by many temptations and afflictions.
Night — When mens minds being freed from the distraction of business, and from the society of men, they act more vigorously and freely, according to their several inclinations.
Tried — As gold-smiths do metals.
Nothing — Nothing of unrighteousness.
Purposed — I have resolved, upon deliberation, as the word implies.
Mouth — I am so far from practising against Saul's life, as they charge me, that I will not wrong him so much as in a word.
Verse 4
[4] Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
Concerning — Observing the works of the men of this age, how wicked they are, I was resolved to take more care in ordering my own actions.
By — By the help of thy blessed word.
Paths — The customs and practices.
Destroyer — Or, of the violent man: such as Saul, and his courtiers and soldiers.
Verse 7
[7] Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
By — By thy great power.
Verse 10
[10] They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
They — They live in splendor and prosperity.
Verse 11
[11] They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
Steps — In all our ways. We go from place to place, to rocks, and caves, and woods; but wheresoever we go they are at hand, and ready to surround us.
Eyes — They keep their eyes fixed upon us.
Bowing — Couching down upon the earth, that they may watch the fittest opportunity to surprize us.
Verse 13
[13] Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Sword — Thy instrument to execute vengeance upon thine enemies. Do not punish me with this rod: let me fall into thy hands, and not into the hands of men.
Verse 14
[14] From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
Thy hand — Wherewith thou dost correct me.
World — Who set their hearts upon this world, and neither have, nor desire any other portion.
Belly — Mind or appetite, as that word is used, Proverbs 20:30.
Treasure — With extraordinary wealth and glory.
Children — When many of thy faithful servants are barren, these are blessed with a numerous posterity.
Verse 15
[15] As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
I will — I do not place my portion in earthly treasures, but in beholding God's face, in the enjoyment of God's presence and favour; which is enjoyed in part in this life, but not fully.
Satisfied — The time is coming, wherein I shall be abundantly satisfied with beholding thy face.
Awake — When I arise from he dead.
Likeness — With the image of God stamped upon my glorified soul.