Psalms 17:3

Psalms 17:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Context of Psalms 17:3

1Lord, hear a just cause; pay attention to my cry; listen to my prayer — from lips free of deceit. 2Let my vindication come from you, for you see what is right. You have tested my heart; you have examined me at night. You have tried me and found nothing evil; I have determined that my mouth will not sin. 4Concerning what people do: by the words from your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5My steps are on your paths; my feet have not slipped.

Psalms 17:3 word by word

בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּ לִבִּ֨י׀ פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּ לַּ֗יְלָה צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי בַל־תִּמְצָ֑א זַ֝מֹּתִ֗י בַּל־יַעֲבָר־פִּֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thou hast provedבָּחַןbâchan · to testH974
• mine heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• thou hast visitedפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: visitH6485
• in the nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• thou hast triedצָרַףtsâraph · to refineH6884
• shalt findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• nothing; I am purposedזָמַםzâmam · to planH2161
• my mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• shall not transgressעָבַר‛âbar · to pass: trespassH5674

Cross-references for Psalms 17:3

• Psalms 11:5The Lord examines the righteous, but he hates the wicked and those who love violence.
• Psalms 26:2Test me, Lord, and try me; examine my heart and mind.
• Psalms 66:10For you, God, tested us; you refined us as silver is refined.
• Psalms 139:1Lord, you have searched me and known me.
• Job 23:10Yet he knows the way I have taken; when he has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.
• Zechariah 13:9I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”
• Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach.
• 1 Corinthians 4:4For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me.
• 1 Peter 1:7so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Psalms 16:7I will bless the Lord who counsels me — even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
• Job 24:14The murderer rises at dawn to kill the poor and needy, and by night he becomes a thief.
• Hosea 7:6For they — their hearts like an oven — draw him into their oven. Their anger smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
• Micah 2:1Woe to those who dream up wickedness and prepare evil plans on their beds! At morning light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.
• Acts 16:9During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!”
• Acts 18:9The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent.
• Psalms 7:4if I have done harm to one at peace with me or have plundered my adversary without cause,

Commentaries on Psalms 17:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Thou hast proved mine heart - Thou well knowest whether there be any evil way in me. Thou hast given me to see many and sore trials; and yet, through thy mercy, I have preserved my integrity both to thee and to my king. Thou hast seen me in my most secret retirements, and knowest whether I have plotted mischief against him who now wishes to take away my life. Thou hast tried me - צרפתני tseraphtani ; Thou hast put me to the test, as they do metals in…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Thou hast proved mine heart - In this verse he refers to his own character and life in the matter under consideration, or the consciousness of his own innocence in respect to his fellow-men who are persecuting and opposing him. He appeals to the Great Searcher of hearts in proof that, in this respect, he was innocent; and he refers to different forms of trial on the part of God to show that after the most thorough search he would find, and did find, that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Although he is not perfect, the psalmist dedicates himself to the Lord. He does not want to sin through lies, flattery, or gossip (see Psalms 10:7; 15:2–3; 17:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. proved ... visited ... tried--His character was most rigidly tested, at all times, and by all methods, affliction and others (Psa 7:10). purposed that, &c.--or, my mouth does not exceed my purpose; I am sincere.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 17:3

• Decision
• Integrity
• Obedience

In the dictionaries

• Greedy
• Path
• Purposed
• Affliction
• Apocalyptic Literature
• Belly
• Eschatology of the Old Testament
• Papyrus
• Prove
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings