Psalm 17:11

Modern

They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

Traditional

They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

Literal

In our steps now they have surrounded us; they have set their eyes to cast us to the ground.

Latin

Projicientes me nunc circumdederunt me; oculos suos statuerunt declinare in terram.

Hebrew

English

They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

The psalmist asks for God's protection and justice, affirms his own integrity, and prays for the Lord to defeat his strong enemies.

The psalms in this section emphasize integrity and purity (Psalms 17:15; 18:20–26; 19:13–14). They describe people as living in God’s presence (Psalms 16:9–11; 17:15) and remaining steadfast (15:5; 16:8).

Theme notes and profiles

Psalm 37:14
The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
Proverbs 6:13–14
…winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
Psalm 10:8–10
He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
Psalm 88:17
All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
1 Samuel 24:2–3
So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
1 Samuel 26:2–3
So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.
1 Samuel 23:26
Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.