Psalms 17 · Verse 3

Psalms 17:3

Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Psalms 17:3, King James Version

Psalms 17:3 in other translations

BSBYou 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.
WEBYou have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
ASVThou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
YLTThou hast proved my heart, Thou hast inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.
DARBYThou hast proved my heart, thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me, thou hast found nothing: my thought goeth not beyond my word.
BBEYou have put my heart to the test, searching me in the night; you have put me to the test and seen no evil purpose in me; I will keep my mouth from sin.
WebsterThou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

What does Psalms 17:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. proved ... visited ... tried--His character was most rigidly tested, at all times, and by all methods, affliction and others (Psa 7:10). purposed that, &c.--or, my mouth does not exceed my purpose; I am sincere.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Thou hast proved mine heart - Thou well knowest whether there be any evil way in me. Thou hast given me to see many and sore trials; and yet, through thy mercy, I have preserved my integrity both to thee and to my king. Thou hast seen me in my most secret retirements, and knowest whether I have plotted mischief against him who now wishes to take away my life. Thou hast tried me - צרפתני tseraphtani; Thou hast put me to the test, as they do metals in order to detect their alloy, and to purify them: well expressed by the Vulgate, Igne me examinasti, "Thou hast tried me by fire;" and well paraphrased in my old Psalter, - The examynd me the lykkenyng of the fournas, that purges metal, and imang al this, wykednes es nout funden in me: that es, I am funden clene of syn, and so ryghtwis. - He who is saved from his sin is right wise; he has found the true wisdom. My mouth shall not transgress - This clause is added to the following verse by the Vulgate and Septuagint: "That my mouth may not speak according to the works of men, I have observed difficult ways because of the words of thy lips." That is, So far from doing any improper action, I have even refrained from all words that might be counted inflammatory or seditious by my adversaries; for I took thy word for the regulation of my conduct, and prescribed to myself the most painful duties, in order that I might, in every respect, avoid what would give offense either to thee or to man. Among the genuine followers of God, plots and civil broils are never found.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 17:1-7

This psalm is a prayer. Feigned prayers are fruitless; but if our hearts lead our prayers, God will meet them with his favour. The psalmist had been used to pray, so that it was not his distress and danger that now first brought him to his duty. And he was encouraged by his faith to expect God would notice his prayers. Constant resolution and watchfulness against sins of the tongue, will be a good evidence of our…

Read the full comment on Psalms 17:1-7 →

Psalms 17:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּba.Chan.tayou have testedH974
לִבִּ֨י\׀li.Biheart myH3820
פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּpa.Kad.tayou have visitedH6485
לַּ֗יְלָהLay.lahnightH3915
צְרַפְתַּ֥נִיtze.raf.Ta.niyou have tested meH6884
בַל\־val-notH1077
תִּמְצָ֑אtim.Tza'you will findH4672
זַ֝מֹּתִ֗יza.mo.TiI have resolvedH2161
בַּל\־bal-notH1077
יַעֲבָר\־ya.'a.vor-it will transgressH5674
פִּֽי\׃Pimouth myH6310

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 17:3

  • Job 23:10

    But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

  • Psalms 26:2

    Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

  • Acts 11:23

    Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

  • Psalms 39:1

    To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

  • Malachi 3:2

    But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

  • Psalms 66:10

    For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

  • Psalms 119:106

    I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

  • Jeremiah 50:20

    In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

  • Proverbs 13:3

    He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

  • Psalms 139:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

  • Zechariah 13:9

    And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

  • Job 24:14

    The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
proved.
11:5; 26:2; 66:10; 139:1; Job 23:10; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:2; 1Co 4:4
1Pe 1:7
thou hast.
16:7; Job 24:14; Ho 7:6; Mic 2:1; Ac 16:9; 18:9,10
shalt.
7:4; 44:17-21; 1Sa 24:10,12; 26:11,23; 2Co 1:12
I am.
39:1; 119:106; Pr 13:3; Ac 11:23; Jas 3:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 17:2

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

  • Psalms 17:3

    Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

  • Psalms 17:4

    Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Read all of Psalms 17

Psalms 17:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Tú has probado mi corazón, hasme visitado de noche; me has apurado, y nada inicuo hallaste: heme propuesto que mi boca no ha de propasarse.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Tu as sondé mon cœur, tu m’as visité de nuit; tu m’as éprouvé au creuset, tu n’as rien trouvé; ma pensée ne va pas au-delà de ma parole.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Du hast mein Herz geprüft, hast mich des Nachts durchforscht; du hast mich geläutert-nichts fandest du; mein Gedanke geht nicht weiter als mein Mund.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dominus firmamentum meum, et refugium meum, et liberator meus. Deus meus adjutor meus, et sperabo in eum; protector meus, et cornu salutis meæ, et susceptor meus.