Psalms 17:5-8

17:5 I carefully obey your commands; ¹ 

I do not deviate from them. ² 

17:6 I call to you for you will answer me, O God.

Listen to me! ³ 

Hear what I say! ⁴ 

17:7 Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, ⁵ 

you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies. ⁶ 

17:8 Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! ⁷ 

Hide me in the shadow of your wings! ⁸ 

[17:5]  ¹ tn Heb “my steps stay firm in your tracks.” The infinitive absolute functions here as a finite verb (see GKC 347 §113.gg). God’s “tracks” are his commands, i.e., the moral pathways he has prescribed for the psalmist.

[17:5]  ² tn Heb “my footsteps do not stagger.”

[17:6]  ³ tn Heb “Turn your ear toward me.”

[17:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “my word.”

[17:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “Set apart faithful acts.”

[17:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “[O] one who delivers those who seek shelter from the ones raising themselves up, by your right hand.” The Lord’s “right hand” here symbolizes his power to protect and deliver.

[17:8]  ⁷ tc Heb “Protect me like the pupil, a daughter of an eye.” The noun בַּת (bat, “daughter”) should probably be emended to בָּבַת (bavat, “pupil”). See Zech 2:12 HT (2:8 ET) and HALOT 107 s.v. *בָּבָה.

[17:8]  ⁸ sn Your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.