Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. New Living Translation Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right. English Standard Version From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! Berean Standard Bible May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right. King James Bible Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. New King James Version Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. New American Standard Bible Let my judgment come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with integrity. NASB 1995 Let my judgment come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with equity. NASB 1977 Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence; Let Thine eyes look with equity. Legacy Standard Bible May my judgment come from Your presence; May Your eyes behold what is upright. Amplified Bible Let my verdict of vindication come from Your presence; May Your eyes look with equity and behold things that are just. Christian Standard Bible Let my vindication come from you, for you see what is right. Holman Christian Standard Bible Let my vindication come from You, for You see what is right. American Standard Version Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; Let thine eyes look upon equity. Contemporary English Version Only you can say that I am innocent, because only your eyes can see the truth. English Revised Version Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes look upon equity. GOD'S WORD® Translation Let the verdict of my innocence come directly from you. Let your eyes observe what is fair. Good News Translation You will judge in my favor, because you know what is right. International Standard Version Justice for me will come from your presence; your eyes see what is right. NET Bible Make a just decision on my behalf! Decide what is right! New Heart English Bible Let my sentence come forth from your presence. Let your eyes look on equity. Webster's Bible Translation Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thy eyes behold the things that are equal. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleMay my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right. World English Bible Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionMy judgment goes out from before You; Your eyes see uprightly. Young's Literal Translation From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly. Smith's Literal Translation From thy face shall my judgment go forth; thine eyes will see uprightnesses. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleLet my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible From you let my vindication come; your eyes see what is right. New Revised Standard Version From you let my vindication come; let your eyes see the right. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleLet my judgment come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are just. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated My judgment will come forth from before you and your eyes will see integrity. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence; Let Thine eyes behold equity. Brenton Septuagint Translation Let my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Hear My Righteous Plea1A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit. 2May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right. 3You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.… Cross References Psalm 26:1-2 Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. / Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind. Psalm 7:8 The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity. Psalm 35:24 Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me. Psalm 43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men. Psalm 9:4 For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging righteously. Psalm 37:6 He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. Isaiah 50:8 The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me! Job 23:10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. 1 Samuel 24:12 May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. Proverbs 24:12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds? 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. / Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. Romans 2:16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel. 1 Peter 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. 2 Timothy 4:8 From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing. Romans 14:10 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. Treasury of Scripture Let my sentence come forth from your presence; let your eyes behold the things that are equal. Let my Psalm 37:6,33 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday… 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; … Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, things Ezekiel 18:25,29 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? … Ezekiel 33:17,20 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal… Jump to Previous Equal Equity Eyes Forth Judge Judgment Presence Regard Right Sentence Uprightly VindicationJump to Next Equal Equity Eyes Forth Judge Judgment Presence Regard Right Sentence Uprightly VindicationPsalm 17 1. David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense of God against his enemies10. He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness 13. He prays against them in confidence of his hope May my vindication come from Your presence; This phrase reflects a deep trust in God's justice and righteousness. The psalmist, traditionally understood to be David, seeks vindication not from human courts or opinions but directly from God. This highlights the belief that true justice is divine and not subject to human error or bias. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, where legal matters were often settled at the city gates by elders, appealing directly to God signifies a higher court of appeal. This plea for divine vindication is echoed in other scriptures, such as Psalm 26:1 and Psalm 35:24, where the psalmist seeks God's judgment and righteousness. Theologically, this can be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate vindication believers find in Christ, who is described as the righteous judge in 2 Timothy 4:8. may Your eyes see what is right. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of Psalm 17, David is seeking God's justice and vindication. He is often seen as a man after God's own heart, who frequently turned to God in times of trouble. 2. God The ultimate judge and source of justice. David appeals to God’s presence and righteousness for his vindication. 3. Enemies of David Though not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of the Psalm suggests that David is surrounded by adversaries and is seeking divine intervention against them. Teaching Points Divine VindicationTrust in God for justice rather than seeking personal revenge. Recognize that true vindication comes from God’s presence and His righteous judgment. God’s Omniscience God sees all things and knows the truth of every situation. Live with integrity, knowing that God’s eyes see what is right. Prayer for Justice Approach God in prayer when facing injustice, asking for His righteous intervention. Cultivate a heart that seeks God’s will and justice above personal desires. Righteous Living Strive to live a life that aligns with God’s standards, trusting that He will see and honor your righteousness. Reflect on your actions and motives, ensuring they are pleasing to God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 17:2?2. How does Psalm 17:2 encourage us to seek God's judgment in our lives? 3. What does "vindication" in Psalm 17:2 reveal about God's role as a just judge? 4. How can Psalm 17:2 guide our prayers for justice in difficult situations? 5. What scriptural connections exist between Psalm 17:2 and God's righteousness elsewhere in the Bible? 6. How can we apply the principle of seeking God's judgment in daily decisions? 7. How does Psalm 17:2 reflect God's role as a judge in our lives? 8. What historical context influenced the writing of Psalm 17:2? 9. How does Psalm 17:2 challenge our understanding of divine justice? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 17? 11. What does 'Apple of God's Eye' mean? 12. How can David claim innocence in Psalm 17:3 if the Bible elsewhere teaches that all humans are sinful (Romans 3:23)? 13. If Psalm 17:15 suggests seeing God's face, how does that reconcile with passages stating no one can see God and live (Exodus 33:20)? 14. Does the promise in Psalm 37:29 ('the righteous shall inherit the land') contradict archaeological and historical evidence of righteous communities being displaced or conquered? What Does Psalm 17:2 Mean May my vindication come from Your presence- David is asking that his acquittal and defense spring directly from God Himself, not from any earthly tribunal. In Psalm 26:1 he prays, “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked with integrity,” echoing the same longing that only God’s verdict ultimately matters. - Because God is perfectly righteous (Psalm 11:7) and His throne is founded on justice (Psalm 89:14), David trusts the verdict proceeding from God’s presence to be completely fair and final. - The phrase underscores personal relationship: David does not view God as a distant judge but as the One whose nearness secures his defense. This mirrors the confidence Paul describes in Romans 8:33–34—“Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” - Practical takeaways: • When falsely accused, believers can rest in God’s courtroom rather than needing to clear their name by worldly means. • God’s presence is not merely comforting; it is the very place where truth is declared and enemies are silenced (Isaiah 54:17). may Your eyes see what is right - David invites divine scrutiny. God’s “eyes” are a recurring image of His omniscience: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). - By asking God to “see what is right,” David states his confidence that his cause and conduct will stand up under God’s gaze—an implicit claim of innocence consistent with Psalm 17:3, where he says, “You have examined my heart; You have tested me and found no wickedness.” - Scripture affirms that the LORD actively looks for righteousness in His people (2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 33:13–15). Nothing escapes Him (Hebrews 4:13), so His judgment is never based on incomplete information. - Practical takeaways: • Instead of fearing exposure, the believer welcomes it, knowing that God’s eyes discern truth and guard the upright (Psalm 34:15). • Trusting God to “see what is right” frees us from the need to manipulate perceptions or retaliate; we can respond with integrity, confident He will bring hidden righteousness to light (1 Peter 2:23). summary Psalm 17:2 is David’s heartfelt appeal for a divine verdict that clears his name. He looks to God’s immediate presence as the courtroom and relies on God’s all-seeing eyes to confirm his innocence. The verse teaches that God alone delivers true justice, His knowledge is perfect, and His people can rest secure under His watchful, righteous care. (2) Let my sentence--i.e., let my cause be tried before Thy tribunal, where it is sure of success, since I am innocent and Thou art just. The second clause is better in the present, "Thine eyes behold," &c.The things that are equal.--Heb., meysharim, which may be either abstract, rectitude, or concrete, the just (Song of Solomon 1:4, Note), or adverbial, justly. Verse 2. - Let my sentence come forth from thy presence. David does not doubt, any more than Job (Job 13:18), what the sentence will be. As right is on his side (ver. 1), it must be in his favour. Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal; literally, Let thine eyes behold equities.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew May my vindicationמִשְׁפָּטִ֣י (miš·pā·ṭî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style come יֵצֵ֑א (yê·ṣê) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim from Your presence; מִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָ (mil·lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā) Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face may Your eyes עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ (‘ê·ne·ḵā) Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain see תֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָה (te·ḥĕ·ze·nāh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural Strong's 2372: To gaze at, to perceive, contemplate, to have a, vision of what is right. מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ (mê·šā·rîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4339: Evenness, prosperity, concord, straightness, rectitude Links Psalm 17:2 NIVPsalm 17:2 NLT Psalm 17:2 ESV Psalm 17:2 NASB Psalm 17:2 KJV Psalm 17:2 BibleApps.com Psalm 17:2 Biblia Paralela Psalm 17:2 Chinese Bible Psalm 17:2 French Bible Psalm 17:2 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 17:2 Let my sentence come forth from your (Psalm Ps Psa.) |