Psalms 17:1

¶ A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips.

A Prayer {H8605} of David {H1732}. Hear {H8085} the right {H6664}, O LORD {H3068}, attend {H7181} unto my cry {H7440}, give ear {H238} unto my prayer {H8605}, that goeth not {H3808} out of feigned {H4820} lips {H8193}.

A prayer of David: Hear a just cause, ADONAI, heed my cry; listen to my prayer from honest lips.

Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it comes from lips free of deceit.

Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

Commentary on Psalms 17:1 (KJV)

Psalm 17:1, "A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips," introduces a fervent plea from King David, appealing directly to God for justice and vindication. This verse sets the tone for a psalm where David seeks divine intervention against his adversaries, emphasizing the sincerity of his heart in prayer.

Context

This psalm is titled "A Prayer of David," indicating its authorship and reflecting a period of distress or persecution in his life. David, often surrounded by enemies and facing unjust accusations, frequently turned to the Lord as his ultimate refuge and righteous judge. In this opening verse, he is not merely asking for attention but for God to "hear the right" – to acknowledge the justice of his cause and the integrity of his petition. It's a cry from someone who believes he is being wronged and looks to God for impartial judgment and deliverance, much like his appeals found in other psalms of lament and trust, such as Psalm 3:1.

Key Themes

  • Sincere Prayer: The most prominent theme is the importance of genuine prayer. David's insistence that his prayer does "not go out of feigned lips" highlights the value God places on sincerity and truthfulness in communication with Him. It contrasts with prayers offered out of hypocrisy or mere ritual.
  • Divine Justice: David appeals to God's attribute of righteousness ("Hear the right"). He trusts that God is a just judge who will discern the truth and act accordingly, delivering the innocent and punishing the wicked. This reflects a deep faith in God's moral governance of the world, as seen in Psalm 9:8.
  • Dependence on God: The repeated calls to "hear," "attend," and "give ear" underscore David's complete reliance on the Lord for help. He has no other recourse but to lay his case before the Almighty.
  • Integrity of Heart: By asserting his lips are not "feigned," David implicitly declares his own integrity concerning the matter at hand. He presents himself as someone whose intentions are pure and whose plea is honest.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Hear the right" (צֶדֶק - tzedeq): The Hebrew word tzedeq means "righteousness" or "justice." David is asking God to hear his righteous cause, to judge his situation according to divine justice, and to vindicate him. It's an appeal to God's very nature as a righteous judge.
  • "Feigned lips" (שִׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה - siftei mirmah): This phrase literally translates to "lips of deceit" or "lips of fraud." It emphasizes the absence of hypocrisy or insincerity. David is affirming that his prayer is not a mere show or a manipulative tactic, but a genuine expression of his heart. This contrasts with the kind of empty or insincere prayers that Jesus warned against in Matthew 6:7.

Practical Application

Psalm 17:1 serves as a timeless reminder for believers regarding the nature of prayer. It encourages us to approach God with honesty and sincerity, knowing that He values a contrite and truthful heart more than eloquent words or outward displays. When we pray, we are invited to lay our true burdens, fears, and petitions before God, trusting that He is not only attentive but also perfectly just. This verse challenges us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our prayers are not just a ritual, but a genuine outpouring of our spirit, seeking God's righteous will and intervention in our lives.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 142:6

    Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

  • Psalms 61:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician upon Neginah, [A Psalm] of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

  • Psalms 145:18

    The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

  • Daniel 9:18

    O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

  • Daniel 9:19

    O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

  • Matthew 15:8

    This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.

  • 1 John 3:21

    Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.

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