1. Psaume 17:6 (NEG79)
  2. Explication du texte

How are we to understand the verb “I call upon you”?

Psalm (Psaume) 17:6 (ESV)

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.

David uses the perfect tense for this verb, which would be literally rendered, I have called upon you. But because the verse includes the imperatives regarding David’s prayer (Incline your ear to me; hear my words), it makes most sense to take the perfect tense as an instantaneous perfect, and translate it as the ESV does: I call upon you.