The Apple of Your Eye
Psalm 17 summary: what it means
Psalm 17 is a plea for a fair hearing. It begins by asking God to listen to a righteous cause, spoken from lips without deceit. The speaker says God has tested their heart in the night and found nothing, and that their feet have held to his paths. Only then does the prayer turn to the danger: proud, callous enemies who surround them like a lion waiting in secret for its prey.
The middle of the psalm holds its central request: keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings. It closes with a contrast. Some people have their portion in this life. The speaker expects instead to see God's face, and to be satisfied on waking.
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Psalm 17: The Apple of Your Eye
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-17
Psalm 17 commentary: explained verse by verse
Hear, LORD, my righteous plea.Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
The psalm opens like a case brought to court. The speaker asks God to hear a righteous plea and adds that the prayer does not come from deceitful lips, so honesty is part of the appeal.
Also read Psalm 66:19, Psalm 43:1, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 5:2
Let my sentence come out of your presence.Let your eyes look on equity.
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
Also read Ezekiel 33:17, Ezekiel 18:25, Jude 1:24, Ezekiel 18:29
You have proved my heart.You have visited me in the night.You have tried me, and found nothing.I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
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.
God is said to have tested the speaker's heart, visiting at night and finding nothing. The speaker then resolves that their mouth will not disobey, which ties the claim of innocence to speech as well as action.
Also read 1 Peter 1:7, Psalm 26:2, Psalm 7:4, Job 23:10
As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips,I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
The speaker says that by the word of God's lips they have kept away from the ways of the violent. The contrast is between what people do and what God has said.
Also read Matthew 4:4, Ephesians 6:17, 1 Peter 4:2-3, Proverbs 2:10-15
My steps have held fast to your paths.My feet have not slipped.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
A statement about the past: my steps have held fast to your paths, my feet have not slipped. It completes the case for innocence that the first five verses build.
Also read Psalm 121:7, 1 Samuel 2:9, Psalm 119:133, Psalm 119:116-117
I have called on you, for you will answer me, God.Turn your ear to me.Hear my speech.
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
The speaker calls on God because they expect an answer. The request is then repeated in simpler words: turn your ear to me, hear my speech.
Also read Isaiah 37:17, Psalm 55:16, Psalm 13:3-4, Psalm 86:7
Show your marvelous loving kindness,you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
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.
The prayer asks God to show his marvelous loving kindness. It describes God as the one who saves, by his right hand, those who take refuge in him from their enemies.
Also read Acts 2:33, 2 Kings 19:22, Psalm 78:12, Psalm 20:6
Keep me as the apple of your eye.Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Two images of close protection. The apple of the eye is something a person guards without thinking, and the shadow of wings suggests shelter beneath a bird's wing. Both ask to be kept very near.
Also read Luke 13:34, Psalm 57:1, Zechariah 2:8, Deuteronomy 32:10
from the wicked who oppress me,my deadly enemies, who surround me.
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
This verse names what the speaker needs hiding from. They are the wicked who oppress, and deadly enemies who surround.
Also read Psalm 7:5, 1 Chronicles 17:9, Psalm 35:7, Psalm 35:4
They close up their callous hearts.With their mouth they speak proudly.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
The enemies are described by their hearts and their mouths. Their hearts are closed and callous, and they speak proudly.
Also read Psalm 123:4, Psalm 119:70, Deuteronomy 32:15, Psalm 31:18
They have now surrounded us in our steps.They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
They have surrounded us, the speaker says, briefly switching from I to us. The enemies are watching for a chance to throw them to the ground.
Also read 1 Samuel 24:2-3, Psalm 88:17, Proverbs 6:13-14, Psalm 10:8-10
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey,as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Also read Psalm 7:2, Psalm 22:13, 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Timothy 4:17
Arise, LORD, confront him.Cast him down.Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Also read Psalm 3:7, Isaiah 51:9, Psalm 7:11-13, Isaiah 13:5
from men by your hand, LORD,from men of the world, whose portion is in this life.You fill the belly of your cherished ones.Your sons have plenty,and they store up wealth for their children.
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.
The verse describes men of the world whose portion is in this life. In the World English Bible it then speaks of God's cherished ones, whose bellies are filled and whose sons have plenty. The KJV gives the full belly and the stored wealth to the men of the world, which sets up the contrast of the final verse.
Also read Psalm 73:3-7, Job 12:9, Job 21:21, John 17:14
As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
The closing verse turns away from all of that. The speaker's hope is to see God's face in righteousness and to be satisfied on waking by seeing his form.
Also read Psalm 4:6-7, Psalm 65:4, Psalm 36:8-9, Psalm 16:11
A prayer from Psalm 17
Hear, LORD, my plea, and give ear to my prayer. Let my words come from lips without deceit. You have tested my heart and visited me in the night. Hold my steps fast to your paths, so my feet do not slip. I call on you, for you will answer me. Turn your ear to me. Show me your marvelous loving kindness. Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings. I leave those who surround me in your hands. As for me, let me see your face, and be satisfied when I awake. Amen.
Psalm 17 Bible study questions
- In verse 3, what does the speaker say God has done to his heart, and what did God find?
- Verse 8 uses two pictures for God's protection; what are they?
- The speaker speaks confidently of his own integrity in verses 3 to 5; how do you respond to a prayer like that?
- Verse 15 ends with being satisfied when I awake; how does that satisfaction compare with the plenty described in verse 14?
- Psalm 17:8 asks to be hidden under the shadow of God's wings; how does Psalm 91:4 use a similar picture?
Questions about Psalm 17
Who wrote Psalm 17?
The heading calls it a prayer by David. It does not say when or why it was written.
What is Psalm 17 about?
It is a prayer for protection from someone who says they are innocent and are surrounded by enemies. It asks God to judge fairly, to guard the speaker closely, and ends with the hope of seeing God's face.
What does Psalm 17:8 mean?
It asks God to guard the speaker as carefully as a person guards the apple of their eye, and to hide them under the shadow of his wings. Both images are about protection that is close and constant.
How does the King James Version word Psalm 17:8?
The KJV reads "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings". The World English Bible has the apple of your eye.
What does Psalm 17:15 mean?
It is the speaker's final hope: to see God's face in righteousness and to be satisfied, on waking, by seeing his form. It stands against verse 14, where others find their portion in this life.
What does Psalm 17:5 say?
In the World English Bible it reads: My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped. It is part of the speaker's case that they have kept to God's ways.
Psalm 17 KJV: the King James Version
Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.1
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.2
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.3
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.4
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.5
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.6
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.7
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,8
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.9
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.10
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;11
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.12
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:13
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.14
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.15
Psalm 17 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 תְּפִלָּ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שִׁמְעָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ צֶ֗דֶק הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה רִנָּתִ֗י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה תְפִלָּתִ֑י בְּ֝לֹ֗א שִׂפְתֵ֥י מִרְמָֽה׃
2 מִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י יֵצֵ֑א עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ תֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָה מֵישָׁרִֽים׃
3 בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּ לִבִּ֨י ׀ פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּ לַּ֗יְלָה צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי בַל־תִּמְצָ֑א זַ֝מֹּתִ֗י בַּל־יַעֲבָר־פִּֽי׃
4 לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת אָ֭דָם בִּדְבַ֣ר שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ אֲנִ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אָרְח֥וֹת פָּרִֽיץ׃
5 תָּמֹ֣ךְ אֲ֭שֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ בַּל־נָמ֥וֹטּוּ פְעָמָֽי׃
6 אֲנִֽי־קְרָאתִ֣יךָ כִֽי־תַעֲנֵ֣נִי אֵ֑ל הַֽט־אָזְנְךָ֥ לִ֝֗י שְׁמַ֣ע אִמְרָתִֽי׃
7 הַפְלֵ֣ה חֲ֭סָדֶיךָ מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ חוֹסִ֑ים מִ֝מִּתְקוֹמְמִ֗ים בִּֽימִינֶֽךָ׃
8 שָׁ֭מְרֵנִי כְּאִישׁ֣וֹן בַּת־עָ֑יִן בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנִי׃
9 מִפְּנֵ֣י רְ֭שָׁעִים ז֣וּ שַׁדּ֑וּנִי אֹיְבַ֥י בְּ֝נֶ֗פֶשׁ יַקִּ֥יפוּ עָלָֽי׃
10 חֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ סָּגְר֑וּ פִּ֝֗ימוֹ דִּבְּר֥וּ בְגֵאֽוּת׃
11 אַ֭שֻּׁרֵינוּ עַתָּ֣ה סבבוני עֵינֵיהֶ֥ם יָ֝שִׁ֗יתוּ לִנְט֥וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
12 דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ כְּ֭אַרְיֵה יִכְס֣וֹף לִטְר֑וֹף וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃
13 קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה קַדְּמָ֣ה פָ֭נָיו הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ פַּלְּטָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י מֵרָשָׁ֥ע חַרְבֶּֽךָ׃
14 מִֽמְתִ֥ים יָדְךָ֨ ׀ יְהוָ֡ה מִֽמְתִ֬ים מֵחֶ֗לֶד חֶלְקָ֥ם בַּֽחַיִּים֮ וצפינך תְּמַלֵּ֪א בִ֫טְנָ֥ם יִשְׂבְּע֥וּ בָנִ֑ים וְהִנִּ֥יחוּ יִ֝תְרָ֗ם לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם׃
15 אֲנִ֗י בְּ֭צֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶ֣ה פָנֶ֑יךָ אֶשְׂבְּעָ֥ה בְ֝הָקִ֗יץ תְּמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃
Psalm 17 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 16 there.
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1 The prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.
2 Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.
3 Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me.
4 That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways.
5 Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not moved.
6 I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline thy ear unto me, and hear my words.
7 Shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust in thee.
8 From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.
9 From the face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul:
10 They have shut up their fat: their mouth hath spoken proudly.
11 They have cast me forth and now they have surrounded me: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth.
12 They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a young lion dwelling in secret places.
13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul from the wicked one: thy sword
14 From the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little ones the rest of their substance.
15 But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.
Psalm 17 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 16.
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1 Oratio David. Exaudi, Domine, justitiam meam; intende deprecationem meam. Auribus percipe orationem meam, non in labiis dolosis.
2 De vultu tuo judicium meum prodeat; oculi tui videant æquitates.
3 Probasti cor meum, et visitasti nocte; igne me examinasti, et non est inventa in me iniquitas.
4 Ut non loquatur os meum opera hominum: propter verba labiorum tuorum, ego custodivi vias duras.
5 Perfice gressus meos in semitis tuis, ut non moveantur vestigia mea.
6 Ego clamavi, quoniam exaudisti me, Deus; inclina aurem tuam mihi, et exaudi verba mea.
7 Mirifica misericordias tuas, qui salvos facis sperantes in te.
8 A resistentibus dexteræ tuæ custodi me ut pupillam oculi. Sub umbra alarum tuarum protege me
9 a facie impiorum qui me afflixerunt. Inimici mei animam meam circumdederunt;
10 adipem suum concluserunt: os eorum locutum est superbiam.
11 Projicientes me nunc circumdederunt me; oculos suos statuerunt declinare in terram.
12 Susceperunt me sicut leo paratus ad prædam, et sicut catulus leonis habitans in abditis.
13 Exsurge, Domine: præveni eum, et supplanta eum: eripe animam meam ab impio; frameam tuam
14 ab inimicis manus tuæ. Domine, a paucis de terra divide eos in vita eorum; de absconditis tuis adimpletus est venter eorum. Saturati sunt filiis, et dimiserunt reliquias suas parvulis suis.
15 Ego autem in justitia apparebo conspectui tuo; satiabor cum apparuerit gloria tua.
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Psalm 17 at a glance
| Verses | 15 |
| Heading in the text | A Prayer by David. |
| Attributed to | The heading calls it a prayer by David. |
| Type | Prayer and Lament |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 16 |
Read Psalm 17 when you are facing
Psalm 17 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 17 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 17 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source