John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:1
Hear the right, O Lord ,.... The psalmist appeals to the Lord as a Judge, sitting on the throne judging right, that he would hear his cause litigated between him and his adversaries, determine and give the decisive sentence about it; so Christ committed himself to him that judgeth righteously, 1 Peter 2:23 ; for by "right" may be meant his right and cause, or his righteous cause, as in Psalm 9:4 ; unless rather his righteous prayer should be intended, so the Targum paraphrases it, "my... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 17:1-7
This psalm is a prayer. As there is a time to weep and a time to rejoice, so there is a time for praise and a time for prayer. David was now persecuted, probably by Saul, who hunted him like a partridge on the mountains; without were fightings, within were fears, and both urged him as a suppliant to the throne of mercy. He addresses himself to God in these verses both by way of appeal (Hear the right, O Lord! let my righteous cause have a hearing before thy tribunal, and give judgment upon it)... read more