Read Psalm 17 at Bible Gateway.
Psa 17 paragraph divisions:
A prayer of David. {n}
Psa 17:1a Hear a just cause, O Lord, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer {n}
Psa 17:1b From lips without deceit.
Psa 17:2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.
Psa 17:3a You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; {n}
Psa 17:3b I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Psa 17:4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
Psa 17:5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.
Psa 17:6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Psa 17:7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them;
Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
Psa 17:9 From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.
Psa 17:10 They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly.
Psa 17:11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
Psa 17:12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.
Psa 17:13a Arise, O Lord, Confront him, cast him down; {n}
Psa 17:13b Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
Psa 17:14a With Your hand, from men, O Lord, From men of the world {n}
Psa 17:14b Who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. {n}
Psa 17:14c They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.
Psa 17:15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. {p}
Psa 17 chiastic structure:
This psalm contains an unusual structure, forming a chiasm as do all the psalms, but nearly all the individual elements are in the form of a parallelism:
1.1) First concept;
2.1) Second concept;
1.2) First concept repeated;
2.2) Second concept repeated.
OR
1.1) First concept;
2.1) Second concept;
2.2) Second concept repeated;
1.2) First concept repeated.
introduction) Psa 17, A prayer of David; {n}
1a) Psa 17:1-2, Vindicate my just cause O LORD/ look on my uprightness;
1.1) Psa 17:1a {n} Hear a just cause, O Lord,
2.1) Psa 17:1b, Attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit;
2.2) Psa 17:2a, Let my vindication come from Your presence;
1.2) Psa 17:2b, Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright;
1b) Psa 17:3-6, You have tested my heart + my mouth/ steady steps in Your paths/ I have called upon You;
1) Psa 17:3, You have tested my heart + found nothing/ I have purposed that my mouth + shall not transgress;
1.1) Psa 17:3a, You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me;
2.1) Psa 17:3b {n} And have found nothing;
1.2) Psa 17:3c, I have purposed that my mouth;
2.2) Psa 17:3d, Shall not transgress;
2) Psa 17:4-5, By Your word I have kept from the paths of the destroyer/ uphold my steps in Your paths;
1.1) Psa 17:4a, As for the works of men;
2.1) Psa 17:4b, By the word of Your lips I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer;
2.2) Psa 17:5a, Uphold my steps in Your paths;
1.2) Psa 17:5b, That my footsteps may not slip;
3) Psa 17:6, I have called upon You/ incline Your ear + hear my speech;
1.1) Psa 17:6a, I have called upon You;
2.1) Psa 17:6b, For You will hear me, O God;
1.2) Psa 17:6c, Incline Your ear to me;
2.2) Psa 17:6d, And hear my speech;
central axis) Psa 17:7-9, Show me Your lovingkindness + salvation, keep me as the apple of your eye/ from the wicked against me;
1) Psa 17:7a, Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You;
2) Psa 17:7b, From those who rise up against them;
1) Psa 17:8, Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings;
2) Psa 17:9, From the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me;
2b) Psa 17:10-14, Their closed hearts + proud mouths/ They surrounded our steps/ Arise, confront him + deliver me;
1) Psa 17:10, They have closed their hearts + speak proudly with their mouths;
1.1) Psa 17:10a, They have closed up their fat hearts;
1.2) Psa 17:10b, With their mouths they speak proudly;
2) Psa 17:11-12, They surrounded our steps + lie in wait in secret places;
1.1) Psa 17:11a, They have now surrounded us in our steps;
2.1) Psa 17:11b, They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth;
2.2) Psa 17:12, As a lion is eager to tear his prey, and like a young lion;
1.2) Psa 17:12b, Lurking in secret places;
3) Psa 17:13-14, Arise + confront him/ deliver me from the wicked whose portion is in this life;
Psa 17:13a {n} Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down;
1.1) Psa 17:13b, Deliver my life from the wicked;
2.1) Psa 17:13c, With Your sword;
2.2) Psa 17:14a, With Your hand;
1.2) Psa 17:14b {n} From men, O LORD, from men of the world;
1.1) Psa 17:14c Who have their portion in this life,
2.1) Psa 17:14d {n} And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure;
2.2) Psa 17:14e, They are satisfied with children;
2.1) Psa 17:14f, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes;
2a) Psa 17:15 {p} I will look on Your face in righteousness;
1.1) Psa 17:15a, As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
1.2) Psa 17:15b, {p} I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Your likeness.
Psa 17 chiastic structure short form:
introduction) Psa 17, A prayer of David; {n}
1a) Psa 17:1-2, Vindicate my just cause O LORD/ look on my uprightness;
1b) Psa 17:3-6, You have tested my heart + my mouth/ steady steps in Your paths/ I have called upon You;
central axis) Psa 17:7-9, Show me Your lovingkindness + salvation, keep me as the apple of your eye/ from the wicked against me;
2b) Psa 17:10-14, Their closed hearts + proud mouths/ They surrounded our steps/ Arise, confront him + deliver me;
2a) Psa 17:15 {p} I will look on Your face in righteousness.
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