New English Translation
Psalms 17:3
3You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful.
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, consider my just cause! Pay attention to my cry for help! Listen to the prayer I sincerely offer! 2Make a just decision on my behalf! Decide what is right! You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful. 4As for the actions of people – just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men. 5I carefully obey your commands; I do not deviate from them.
Read all of Psalms 17Psalms 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 approves of the godly, but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.
- Psalms 26:2Examine me, O Lord, and test me! Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives!
- Psalms 66:10For you, O God, tested us; you purified us like refined silver.
- Psalms 139:1O Lord, you examine me and know.
- Job 23:10But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.
- Zechariah 13:9Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”
- Malachi 3:2Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.
- 1 Peter 1:7Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- Psalms 16:7I will praise the Lord who guides me; yes, during the night I reflect and learn.
- Job 24:14Before daybreak the murderer rises up; he kills the poor and the needy; in the night he is like a thief.
- Hosea 7:6They approach him, all the while plotting against him. Their hearts are like an oven; their anger smolders all night long, but in the morning it bursts into a flaming fire.
- Micah 2:1Those who devise sinful plans are as good as dead, those who dream about doing evil as they lie in bed. As soon as morning dawns they carry out their plans, because they have the power to do so.
- Acts 16:9A vision appeared to Paul during the night: A Macedonian man was standing there urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
- Acts 18:9The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent,
- Psalms 7:4or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy,
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
In the dictionaries
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
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