1. Psalm 17:1–15 (ESV)
  2. Structure and outline

The links between Psalm 17 and previous psalms

Psalm 17:1–15 (ESV)

1 Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

There are various links with previous psalms, but especially with Psalm 15:1–5 and Psalm 16:1–11. Probably the most significant is that all three psalms use the same verb to be moved, be shaken, slip (the Niphal of מוֹט; see Psalm 15:5; Psalm 16:8; Psalm 17:5), which is a relatively rare word that elsewhere in the Psalter appears only in single separated psalms (see, for example, Psalm 10:6; Psalm 13:4), but here in three psalms in a row.1 That reinforces that the man of these psalms is the same person. Other links are Psalm 16:11 and Psalm 17:7 (at your right hand), and Psalm 16:5 and Psalm 17:14 (portion).