Bible Strands
Psalms 17:1
A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses Yahweh directly in a formal prayer, requesting divine attention to his plea for vindication. The immediate context frames this appeal as a request for God to examine his case and confirm his integrity.
The words — The Hebrew צֶדֶק (Tze.dek) translates literally as "righteousness," anchoring the plea to a claim of moral standing before God. The verb שׁמַע (shim.'A/h) commands Yahweh to "hear" with active attention, establishing the prayer's urgent tone.
The thread — This pattern of pleading for divine attention appears in Psalms 61:1 and Psalms 142:6, where the psalmist similarly calls on God to listen to cries of distress. The motif extends to Psalms 145:18, which notes God's nearness to those who call on Him in truth.
Why it lands — The verse demands a reader to bring unvarnished appeals directly to God, grounding requests in moral integrity rather than emotional manipulation. It requires honest self-examination before approaching the divine, treating prayer as a serious appeal for justice.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Psalms 142:6 Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
- Psalms 61:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.
- Psalms 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
- Daniel 9:18 Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.
- Matthew 15:8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
- 1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
- 2 Chronicles 7:15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
- Psalms 7:8 The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.
- Psalms 18:20 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
- Psalms 43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men.