Psalms 17:1
Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Psalm 17 belongs to the category of individual lament, specifically prayers for deliverance from enemies. The superscription identifies it as "A Prayer of David," suggesting it may have originated during one of David's many experiences of persecution—perhaps during Saul's pursuit, Absalom's rebellion, or another crisis when innocent suffering and false accusation threatened him.
The concept of sincere versus feigned prayer was central to Israel's prophetic critique of empty religion. Isaiah denounced those who drew near with their mouths while their hearts were far from God (Isaiah 29:13). Malachi condemned priests who offered defiled sacrifices while going through religious motions (Malachi 1:6-14). David's emphasis on unfeigned lips aligns with the broader biblical insistence that God desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6).
The practice of appealing to God as righteous Judge pervades the Psalter. When human justice systems fail—when the innocent suffer and the wicked prosper—God remains the ultimate court of appeal. David, having been anointed king yet hunted like an animal, had experienced profound injustice. His confidence that God would hear "the right" sustained him through years of exile and danger.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does David use three different imperatives and three different words for prayer in this opening verse?
- What does it mean to pray 'the right' rather than simply praying for what you want?
- How does praying with 'unfeigned lips' differ from praying what you think God wants to hear?
- When have you appealed to God's righteousness when human justice failed you?
Analysis & Commentary
Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. David opens this psalm with an urgent, threefold appeal for divine attention: "Hear," "attend," and "give ear." This rhetorical intensification—using three imperatives with three synonyms for prayer (tsedeq, "the right"; rinnah, "cry"; tefillah, "prayer")—expresses the psalmist's passionate desire to be heard by God.
"Hear the right" (shim'ah tsedeq, שִׁמְעָה צֶדֶק) is striking. David does not merely ask God to hear him but to hear "the right" or "righteousness." The Hebrew tsedeq can mean righteousness, justice, or a righteous cause. David appeals to God as the righteous Judge, confident that his cause is just. He is not praying for something contrary to God's righteous will but for vindication that aligns with divine justice.
"That goeth not out of feigned lips" (lo misifte mirmah, לֹא מִשִּׂפְתֵי מִרְמָה) declares the sincerity of David's prayer. Mirmah means deceit, treachery, or fraud. Unlike flattery or manipulative prayer designed to deceive God, David's petition comes from genuine conviction. He prays what he truly believes, not what he thinks God wants to hear. This combination of righteous cause and sincere expression gives David confidence in approaching God.
The verse establishes the entire psalm's framework: a righteous man with a just cause, praying sincerely, appeals to the righteous Judge for vindication against enemies. David's confidence rests not on his perfection but on his integrity—he genuinely seeks God and righteousness, unlike his deceitful opponents.