Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 17:2
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
2. The petition. Let my judgement come forth from thy presence. Cp. Psa 37:6; Isa 42:1; Isa 42:3-4; Hab 1:4. Pronounce sentence for me; publish it; give effect to it, and vindicate the justice of my cause.
Let thine eyes &c.] Better, Thine eyes behold equity, or, with equity. The prayer is based on the known character of Jehovah. His discernment is complete and impartial. Cp. Psa 11:4; Psa 9:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let my sentence – Hebrew, my judgment. The allusion is to a judgment or sentence as coming from God in regard to the matter referred to in the psalm, to wit, the injuries which he had received from his enemies. He felt that they had done him injustice and wrong; he felt assured that a sentence or judgment from God in the case would be in his favor. So Job often felt that if he could bring his case directly before God, God would decide in his favor. Compare Job 23:1-6.
Come forth from thy presence – From before thee. That is, he asks God to pronounce a sentence in his case.
Let thine eyes behold – He asked God to examine the case with his own eyes, or attentively to consider it, and to see where justice was.
The things that are equal – The things that are just and right. He felt assured that his own cause was right, and he prays here that justice in the case may be done. He felt that, if that were done, he would be delivered from his enemies. As between ourselves and our fellow-men, it is right to pray to God that he would see that exact justice should be done, for we may be able to feel certain that justice is on our side, and that we are injured by them; but as between ourselves and God, we can never offer that prayer, for if justice were done to us we could not but be condemned. Before him our plea must be for mercy, not justice.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. My sentence come forth from thy presence] Thou knowest my heart, and my ways; judge me as thou shalt find; let me not fall under the judgment of man.
Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.] Thou knowest whether I render to all their due, and whether others act justly by me. Thou canst not be deceived: do justice between me and my adversaries.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
My sentence, Heb. my right or judgment, i.e. judgment in my cause, or on my behalf.
From thy presence, i.e. from thee, and from thy tribunal, to which I bring my cause. Do not suspend or delay it, but speedily examine my cause and give sentence in it.
Things that are equal, or right. For though I desire and need thy grace and favour in many other respects, yet I beg only thy justice in this cause between me and them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. sentenceacquittingjudgment.
from thy presenceThytribunal.
things that are equaljustand right, do Thou regard.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence,…. Not of condemnation, such as came forth from God and passed on Adam and all his posterity, Ro 5:12; though such an one was executed on Christ, as he was the surety and representative of his people; but of justification, which came forth from God and passed on Christ, when he rose from the dead, and upon his people in him, 1Ti 3:16. Here it chiefly designs the vindication of the innocence of the psalmist before men; and his request is, that as he was fully persuaded that he was clear of the things he was charged with in the sight of God, that he would openly and publicly make him appear so before men; that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, and his judgment as the noonday, Ps 37:6; and of which he made no doubt but he would; so Christ, though he was traduced by men, knew he should be justified by his Father, and by his children, Isa 50:8;
let thine eyes behold the things that are equal; which is not to be understood barely of the eyes of his omniscience; for these behold things both equal and unequal, good and evil, things which agree and disagree with the law of God, the rule of righteousness and equity; but of his approbation of them, and that he would some way or other testify that approbation; for the petition intends the favouring of his just and equal cause, and making it to appear to be so.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. From the presence of thy countenance. Literally it is, from before thy face, or, before thy face. By these words David intimates that if God does not rise up as the vindicator of his cause, he will be overwhelmed with calumnies though innocent, and will be looked upon as a guilty and condemned person. The cognisance which God will take of his cause is tacitly set in opposition to the dark inventions of falsehood which were spread against him. (341) His language is as if he had said, I do not ask for any other judge but God, nor do I shrink from standing before his judgment-seat, (342) since I bring with me both a pure heart and a good cause. What he immediately adds with respect to God’s looking upon his uprightness is of similar import. He does not mean to say that God is blind, but only beseeches him actually to show that he does not connive at the wickedness of men, and that it is not to him a matter of indifference when he beholds those who have not the means of defending themselves (343) receiving evil treatment undeservedly. Some take the word judgment in too restricted a sense for the right to the kingdom which was promised to David, as if he petitioned to be placed on the royal throne by the power of God, inasmuch as he had been chosen by him to be king, and had also, in his name and by his authority, been anointed to this office by the hand of Samuel. The meaning which I attach to David’s language is simply this, that being oppressed with many and varied wrongs, he commits himself to the protection and defense of God.
(341) “ Car la cognoissance que Dieu prendra de sa cause est tacitement mise in l’opposite des tenebres des mensonges qu’on semoit contre luy.” — Fr.
(342) “ Et qu’il ne refuse point de respondre derant le siege judicial d’iceluy.” — Fr. “Nor do I refuse to answer before his judgment-seat.”
(343) “ Qui n’ont pas moyen de se defendre.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Let my sentencei.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., meysharm, which may be either abstract, rectitude, or concrete, the just (Son. 1:4, Note), or adverbial, justly.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Let my sentence come forth Rather, my judgment [acquittal] shall come forth from thee. Thine eyes shall behold equity. The verb is declarative, as an expression of faith.
Things that are equal Taken adverbially, the word denotes rightly, uprightly; thine eyes behold righteously. Pro 8:6
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 17:2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
Ver. 2. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence ] Let it be both pronounced and executed forthwith.
Let thine eyes behold, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Let my sentence, &c. = From thy presence my judgment will come: Thine eyes will discern upright ones.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Let my: Psa 37:6, Psa 37:33, 2Th 1:6-9, Jud 1:24
things: Eze 18:25, Eze 18:29, Eze 33:17, Eze 33:20
Reciprocal: 2Ch 20:15 – Be not afraid Job 31:6 – Let me be weighed in an even balance Psa 7:8 – according Psa 71:2 – in thy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 17:2. Let my sentence Hebrew, , mishpati, my judgment, that is, judgment in my cause, or on my behalf: come forth from thy presence From thee, and from thy tribunal, to which I bring my cause. Do not suspend or delay it, but speedily examine my cause, and give sentence in it. Behold the things that are equal Or right: for though I need and desire thy mercy and favour in many other respects, yet I beg only the interposition of thy justice in this cause between me and them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17:2 Let my {b} sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
(b) The vengeance that you will show against my enemies.