## Rashi on Psalms Chapter 17

###### Rashi on Psalms 17:2:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:2:1)

**מִלְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִי יֵצֵא.** עֲבֵירוֹת שֶׁבְּיָדִי, שֶׁאֲנִי רָאוּי לְהִשָּׁפֵט עֲלֵיהֶם בְּיִסּוּרִין, יֵצְאוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, וְלֹא יָבוֹאוּ לְפָנֶיךָ בַּדִּין:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**May my judgment come forth from before You** May the sins for which I deserve to be judged with torments, go forth from before You and not come before You in judgment.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:2:2
[Rashi on Psalms 17:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:2:2)

**עֵינֶיךָ תֶּחֱזֶינָה מֵישָׁרִים.** אִם יֵשׁ בְּיָדִי זְכֻיּוֹת, בָּהֶן תֶּחֱזֶינָה בְּמֵישָׁרִים עֵינֶיךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**may Your eyes see [my] upright acts** If I have merits, may Your eyes see the upright acts.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:3:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:3:1)

**בָּחַנְתָּ לִבִּי וְגוֹ׳.** יָדַעְתִּי כִּי יֵשׁ עֲבֵירָה בְּיָדִי, וְאִם מִשְׁפַּט עָנְשִׁי יָבֹא לְפָנֶיךָ לֹא אֶצְדַּק בַּדִּין, אֲשֶׁר כְּבָר **בָּחַנְתָּ לִבִּי**:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**You have tried my heart, etc.** I know that I am guilty of a transgression, and, if the judgment of its punishment comes before You, I will not be declared innocent in the judgment, for You have already tried my heart.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:3:2
[Rashi on Psalms 17:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:3:2)

**פָּקַדְתָּ לַּיְלָה.** לְעֵת הָעֶרֶב בַּעֲוֹן בַּת שֶׁבַע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְהִי לְעֵת הָעֶרֶב וַיָּקָם דָּוִד וְגוֹמֵר״ (שמואל ב יא:ב):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**You have visited [upon me] at night** at eventide for the iniquity of Bathsheba, concerning which it is stated (in II Sam. 11:2) “And it came to pass at the time of evening, that David arose, etc.”


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:3:3
[Rashi on Psalms 17:3:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:3:3)

**צְרַפְתַּנִי.** נִסִּיתַנִי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**You have refined me** You have tested me.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:3:4
[Rashi on Psalms 17:3:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:3:4)

**בַּל תִּמְצָא.** לֹא מָצָאתָ בִּי חֶפְצְךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**and not found** You have not found in me Your desire.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:3:5
[Rashi on Psalms 17:3:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:3:5)

**זִמּוֹתִי בַּל יַעֲבָר פִּי.** אִם תַּעֲלֶה עוֹד בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי לִיבָּחֵן לְפָנֶיךָ, בַּל יַעֲבָר פִּי לוֹמַר עוֹד בְּחָנֵנִי וְנַסֵּנִי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי כְּבָר כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בְּחָנֵנִי ה׳ וְנַסֵּנִי״ (תהלים כו:ב). שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מִפְּנֵי מָה אוֹמְרִים אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים אֱלֹהֵי דָוִד? אָמַר לוֹ: אֲנִי בְּחַנְתִּיו בְּעֶשֶׂר נִסְיוֹנוֹת וְנִמְצָא שָׁלֵם. אָמַר בְּחָנֵנִי וְנַסֵּנִי, כִּדְאִיתָא בְּמַסֶּכֶת שַׁבָּת (שבת קנג:):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**If I think, let it not pass my mouth** If it enters my thoughts again to be tried before You, let it not pass my mouth to say again, “Try me, O Lord, and test me,” as I have already said, as is written (26:2) “Try me, O Lord, and test me,” for David asked the Holy One, blessed be He, “Why do they say, ‘the God of Abraham,’ yet they do not say, ‘the God of David’?” He replied, “I tested him with ten tests, and he was found perfect.” He [David] said, “Try me and test me,” as appears in tractate Shabbath (?).


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:4:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:4:1)

**לִפְעֻלּוֹת אָדָם בִּדְבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְגוֹ׳, תָּמוֹךְ אֲשׁוּרַי וְגוֹ׳.** מֵאָז וָהָלְאָה לְכָל פְּעֻלַּת אָדָם שֶׁבָּאתִי לִפְעֹל, אֲנִי שָׁמַרְתִּי בִּשְׁבִיל דְּבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ אָרְחוֹת פָּרִיץ לִנְטוֹת מֵהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא אֵלֵךְ בָּהֶם, אַךְ לִתְמֹךְ אֲשׁוּרַי תָּמִיד בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶיךָ, לֹא נָמוֹטוּ מֵהֶם פְּעָמַי. פֵּרוּשׁ אַחֵר: **לִפְעֻלּוֹת אָדָם בִּדְבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְגוֹ׳**, לְפִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בִּפְעֻלּוֹתָיו לְפִי יִשְׁרַת דְּבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ ״לֹא תִנְאָף״ (שמות כ:יג), אֲנִי שָׁמַרְתִּי אָרְחוֹת פָּרִיץ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי שֶׁלֹּא כָּרָאוּי בְּטוֹבָתְךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**As for man’s deeds, because of the word of Your lips, etc. To support my feet, etc.** From then on, for every deed of man that I came to perform, I watched myself because of the word of Your lips; [I watched] the ways of the profligate, to turn away from them, so that I should not walk in them, but [would] support my feet constantly in Your paths, that my feet should not falter from them. Another explanation: **For the deeds of man according to the word of Your lips, etc.** Since a person must use his deeds according to the uprightness (decree - early editions) of the word of Your lips, as You said, “You shall not commit adultery,” I kept myself from the ways of the profligate although I behaved unseemly according to the good You have done.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:5:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:5:1)

**תָּמוֹךְ אֲשֻׁרַי וְגוֹ׳.** מֵאָז וָהָלְאָה לְכָל פְּעֻלַּת אָדָם שֶׁבָּאתִי לִפְעוֹל אֶת הַמֵּישָׁרִים תֶּחֱזֶינָה עֵינֶיךָ, וְהַמִּשְׁפָּט מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יֵצֵא:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**To support my feet** From then on, for every deed of man that I did improperly, may Your eyes see the upright deeds, but my judgment shall go forth from before you.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:6:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:6:1)

**כִּי תַעֲנֵנִי אֵל.** כִּי בָּטוּחַ אֲנִי שֶׁתַּעֲנֵנִי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**because You shall answer me, O God** Because I am confident that You will answer me.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:7:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:7:1)

**הַפְלֵה חֲסָדֶיךָ.** דֵּשִׁיבְרָ״א בְּלַעַ״ז, כְּמוֹ ״וְנִפְלִינוּ אֲנִי וְעַמְּךָ״ (שמות לג:טז). מוֹשִׁיעַ בִּימִינְךָ אֶת הַחוֹסִים בְּךָ מִמִּתְקוֹמְמִים עֲלֵיהֶם. **הַפְלֵה חֲסָדֶיךָ מוֹשִׁיעַ חוֹסִים** הֲרֵי זֶה מִקְרָא מְסֹרָס: הַפְלֵה חֲסָדֶיךָ לְהוֹשִׁיעַ בִּימִינְךָ אֶת הַחוֹסִים וְגוֹ׳:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Distinguish Your kind acts** Heb. הפלה, esevre in Old French, to separate, as (in Exod. 33:16): “and I and my people will be distinguished (ונפלינו).” With Your right hand You save those who take refuge in You from those who rise up against them. (This does not appear in manuscripts or in most early editions.) [The literal meaning is:] Distinguish Your kind acts, You Who save those who take refuge, etc. This is a transposed verse, meaning: Distinguish Your kind acts to save with Your right hand those who take refuge, etc.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:8:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:8:1)

**כְּאִישׁוֹן.** הוּא הַשָּׁחוֹר שֶׁבָּעַיִן, שֶׁהָאוֹר תָּלוּי בּוֹ. וְעַל שֵׁם שַׁחֲרוּרִיתוֹ הוּא קָרוּי אִישׁוֹן, לְשׁוֹן חֹשֶׁךְ (משלי כ:כ). וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֵכִין לוֹ שׁוֹמֵר, אֶת רִיסֵי הָעַיִן הַמְכַסִּין אוֹתוֹ תָּמִיד:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**as the apple** Heb. (כאישון). That is the pupil (lit. the black) of the eye, on which the vision depends. Because it is black, it is called אישון, an expression of darkness, and the Holy One, blessed be He, prepared a guard for it, viz. the eyelids, which constantly cover it.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:9:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:9:1)

**זוּ שַׁדּוּנִי.** בִּשְׁבִיל זֹאת שֶׁשּׁוֹדְדִים אוֹתִי אוֹיְבַי, אֲשֶׁר **בְּנֶפֶשׁ יַקִּיפוּ עָלָי.** לִטּוֹל נַפְשִׁי:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**who have robbed me** Because of this: my enemies, who encompass me to take my life, rob me.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:10:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:10:1)

**חֶלְבָּמוֹ סָגְרוּ.** בְּחֶלְבָּם וּבְשֻׁמָּנָם סָגְרוּ לִבָּם וְעֵינֵיהֶם מֵהַבִּיט אֶל פָּעֳלְךָ לִירָאָה מִפָּנֶיךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**[With] their fat, they closed themselves up** With their fat, they closed their heart and their eyes from looking at Your deeds, in fear of You.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:11:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:11:1)

**אַשֻּׁרֵינוּ עַתָּה סְבָבוּנוּ.** אֶת עֲקֵבֵנוּ עַתָּה סְבָבוּנוּ הָאוֹיְבִים, וְ**עֵינֵיהֶם יָשִׁיתוּ לִנְטוֹת בָּאָרֶץ** לִפְשֹׁט בָּאָרֶץ. וְנִרְאֶה לִי שֶׁנִּתְפַּלֵּל דָּוִד תְּפִלָּה זוֹ לְאַחַר שֶׁבָּא לְיָדוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל אוּרִיָּה, וְיוֹאָב וְיִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ בְּאֶרֶץ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן צָרִים עַל רַבָּה (שמואל ב יא:א), וַיִּירָא דָּוִד שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּשְׁלוּ שָׁם בִּשְׁבִיל עֲבֵרָה שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ, וְיִשְׁמְעוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים וּמוֹאָב וֶאֱדוֹם וְכָל שְׁכֵנֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָרָעִים הַמְצַפִּים לְיוֹם אֵידָם, וְיָבֹאוּ עֲלֵיהֶם:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**[By] our footsteps they surround us now** By our footsteps, the enemies surround us now, and they set their eyes roaming over the land, to raid the land. It appears to me that David prayed this prayer after the incident of Uriah and Joab had happened to him, and the Israelites were in the land of the children of Ammon besieging Rabbah (II Sam. 11), and David feared that they would be defeated there because of the sin that he had committed, and the Philistines, Moab, Edom, and all the evil neighbors of Eretz Israel, who looked forward to the day of their misfortune, would hear and march against them.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:12:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:12:1)

**יִכְסוֹף.** יַחְמוֹד, כְּמוֹ ״כִּי נִכְסֹף נִכְסַפְתָּ״ (בראשית לא:ל):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**which yearns** Heb. יכסף, yearns, as (in Gen. 31:30): “for you yearned (נכסף נכספתי).”


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:13:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:13:1)

**קַדְּמָה פָנָיו.** שֶׁל אוֹיֵב:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**confront him** The enemy.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:13:2
[Rashi on Psalms 17:13:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:13:2)

**הַכְרִיעֵהוּ.** קַפַּח אֶת רַגְלָיו וְיִכְרַע וְיִפּוֹל:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**bring him down to his knees** Beat his legs, and he will kneel and fall.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:13:3
[Rashi on Psalms 17:13:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:13:3)

**פַּלְּטָה נַפְשִׁי.** מִכָּל רָשָׁע שֶׁהוּא חַרְבְּךָ, שֶׁאַתָּה מַשְׁלִיטוֹ לִיפָּרַע מִן הַמְחֻיָּבִים לְךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**rescue my soul** from every wicked man who is Your sword, for You give him the power to rule, to requite those who are bound to You.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:14:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:14:1)

**מִמְּתִים יָדְךָ.** מִן הַמֵּתִים בְּיָדְךָ עַל מִטָּתָם אֲנִי בּוֹחֵר לִהְיוֹת:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Of those who die by Your hand** I choose to be one of those who die by Your hand on their bed.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:14:2
[Rashi on Psalms 17:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:14:2)

**מִמְּתִים מֵחֶלֶד.** מֵאוֹתָם שֶׁמֵּתִים בְּזִקְנָה, מִשֶּׁהֶעֱלוּ חֲלֻדָּה, רְדוּיִילָ״א בְּלַעַ״ז, וּמִן הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲשֶׁר **חֶלְקָם בַּחַיִּים**:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**of those who die of old age** Heb. מחלד. Of those who die of old age, after they have “rusted” (חלודה), rodijjl in Old French, [rouille in Modern French] rust, and of the righteous, whose share is in life.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:14:3
[Rashi on Psalms 17:14:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:14:3)

**וּצְפוּנְךָ תְּמַלֵּא בִטְנָם.** וּמֵאוֹתָם אֲשֶׁר תְּמַלֵּא מְעֵיהֶם מִטּוּבְךָ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לִירֵאֶיךָ (תהלים לא:כ):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**and whose belly You will fill with Your hidden treasure** And of those whose innards You will fill with Your good, which You have hidden for those who fear You.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:14:4
[Rashi on Psalms 17:14:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:14:4)

**יִתְרָם.** נִכְסֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר יַשְׁאִירוּ בְּמוֹתָם:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**their abundance** Their property that they leave over when they die.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:15:1
[Rashi on Psalms 17:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:15:1)

**אֲנִי בְּצֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ.** לֶעָתִיד, אוֹ **בְּצֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ** מִשְׁפָּטִי הוֹצֵא מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, וְהַצְּדָקוֹת שֶׁבְּיָדִי אֱחוֹז, וּבָהֶם אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**I will see Your face with righteousness** In the future, take my judgment away from before You and grasp the righteous deeds that I have performed, and through them I will see Your face.


###### Rashi on Psalms 17:15:2
[Rashi on Psalms 17:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Psalms/r/17:15:2)

**אֶשְׂבְּעָה בְהָקִיץ תְּמוּנָתֶךָ.** אֶשְׂבְּעָה מֵרְאִיַּת תְּמוּנָתְךָ בְּהָקִיץ הַמֵּתִים מִשְּׁנָתָם. לָשׁוֹן אַחֵר: אֶשְׂבְּעָה מֵרְאוֹת פָּנֶיךָ בְּהָקִיץ הַמֵּתִים מִשְּׁנָתָם, שֶׁהֵם בִּדְמוּת תְּמוּנָתְךָ, שֶׁכֵּן נֶאֱמַר ״כִּי בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם״ (בראשית ט:ו):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**I will see Your face with righteousness** in the future (Mid. Ps. 17:13), or **I will see Your face with righteousness** Take my judgment away from before You and grasp the righteous deeds that I have performed, and through them I will see Your face. In other editions, this is one interpretation: **I will be satisfied with Your image upon the awakening** I will be satisfied with the vision of Your image when the dead awaken from their sleep. In many editions, the following appears at this point: Another explanation: I will be satisfied from seeing Your face when the dead awaken from their sleep, for they are in the likeness of Your image, for so it is stated (in Gen. 9:6): “For in the image of God, He made man.”