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

1O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips. 2Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right. You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. 4I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people. 5My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.

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 both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.
• Psalms 26:2Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.
• Psalms 66:10You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.
• Psalms 139:1O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
• Job 23:10“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
• Zechariah 13:9I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”
• Malachi 3:2“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.
• 1 Corinthians 4:4My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
• 1 Peter 1:7These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
• Psalms 16:7I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
• Job 24:14The murderer rises in the early dawn to kill the poor and needy; at night he is a thief.
• Hosea 7:6Their hearts are like an oven blazing with intrigue. Their plot smolders through the night, and in the morning it breaks out like a raging fire.
• Micah 2:1What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so.
• Acts 16:9That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
• Acts 18:9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!
• Psalms 7:4if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy 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