---
title: "Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "James Anderson"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 41 of 159
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/41/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. James Anderson, Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5, section 41. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/41/"
---

# Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5

*John Calvin, tr. James Anderson*

Calvin on the Psalms, volume 5 of 5.

## 41. Psalm 17

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/41/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/41/#p-N

[¶0] A Prayer of David

[¶1] 1 Hear, O Jehovah! my righteousness; Attend to my cry; Hearken to my prayer, which is not in lips of deceit.

[¶2] 2 From the presence of thy countenance let my judgment go forth Let thine eyes behold uprightness.

[¶3] 3 Thou hast proved my heart; Thou hast visited it by night; Thou hast examined it, thou shalt not find any thing in it; My thought shall not pass beyond my mouth.

[¶4] 4 As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have taken heed of the ways of the destroyer.

[¶5] 5 Uphold my steps in thy paths, That my footsteps may not slide.

[¶6] 6 I have called upon thee, surely thou wilt hear me, O God! Incline thy ear to me, and hear my speech.

[¶7] 7 Make marvelous thy mercies, O thou Preserver of those who trust [in thee,] From those that exalt themselves against thy right hand.

[¶8] 8 Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In the shadow of thy wings hide me,

[¶9] 9 From the face of the ungodly who endeavor to destroy me — Of my enemies who in my soul besiege me.

[¶10] 10 In their own fat they have enclosed themselves; With their mouth they have spoken haughtily.

[¶11] 11 In our steps they have now encompassed me; eyes they have set to east down to the ground.

[¶12] 12 He is like a lion, he desireth to seize his prey, And like a lion’s whelp which lurketh in secret places.

[¶13] 13 Arise, O Jehovah! confront him, lay him prostrate; Deliver my soul from the ungodly man by thy sword

[¶14] 14 From men by thy hand, O Jehovah! — From men who are of long duration, Whose portion is in life, Whose belly thou fillets with thy secret, goods: Filled to the full are their children with them, And their residue they leave to their babes.

[¶15] 15 As for me in righteousness I shall behold thy face; I shall be satisfied when I shall awake with thy likeness.