“Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.”
This prayer for protection opens with the plea hear a just cause, O Lord and attend to my cry, invoking divine attention to the speaker's protest of innocence. The mention of just cause suggests the speaker believes his case can withstand legal scrutiny and moral examination. The appeal for attention establishes that the speaker wants God to act as judge hearing the case before the divine court. This opening frames the psalm as legal proceeding where the speaker petitions God as judge and jury.
Church Fathers on Psalms 17:1
A prayer of David himself. 1. This prayer must be assigned to the Person of the Lord, with the addition of the Church, which is His body. 2. “Hear My righteousness, O God, consider My supplication” Psalm 16:1. “Hearken unto My prayer, not in deceitful lips:” not going forth to You in deceitful lips. “Let My judgment from Your countenance go forth” Psalm 16:2. From the enlightening of the knowledge of You, let Me judge truth. Or at least, let My judgment go forth, not in…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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