The Meaning of Psalms 17:2 Explained

Psalms 17:2

KJV: Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

YLT: From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly.

Darby: Let my judgment come forth from thy presence, let thine eyes regard equity.

ASV: Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; Let thine eyes look upon equity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let my sentence  come forth  from thy presence;  let thine eyes  behold  the things that are equal. 

What does Psalms 17:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 17:1-15 - God's True Servants Safely Kept
This also dates from the Sauline persecutions. In the earlier verses David protests his innocence, pleads for deliverance from his foes, and ends with glad anticipation of the vision of God. The psalm may have been composed for use at eventide; two at least of its verses point in that direction, Psalms 17:3; Psalms 15:1-5.
What a comfort it is to appeal from the accusations of men to the judgment-bar of God! Yet our sufferings at their hands are God's smelting-furnace. The Hebrew word translated tried is "melted," Psalms 17:3. But we cannot be kept without constant use of God's Word, Psalms 17:4. And then how safe we are! The apple of the eye-that is, the pupil-is defended by eye lash, lid, brow, bony socket, and uplifted arm. Thy wings, see Deuteronomy 32:11.
Note the contrast between Psalms 17:14 and Psalms 16:5; Psalms 16:11. The worldly are filled with this world-I with thee. They look for the things of this life-I for the unseen and eternal. They are satisfied with children-I with thy likeness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 17

1  David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense of God against his enemies
10  He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness
13  He prays against them in confidence of his hope

What do the individual words in Psalms 17:2 mean?

From Your presence my vindication let come Your eyes let look on the things that are upright
מִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י יֵצֵ֑א עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ תֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָה מֵישָׁרִֽים

מִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָ  From  Your  presence 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י  my  vindication 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
יֵצֵ֑א  let  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ  Your  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
תֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָה  let  look 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: חָזָה  
Sense: to see, perceive, look, behold, prophesy, provide.
מֵישָׁרִֽים  on  the  things  that  are  upright 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֵישָׁרִים  
Sense: evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity.