3
You have testedבָּחַנְתָּmy heart,לִבִּיyou have inspected itפָּקַדְתָּby night,לַּיְלָהyou have refined me;צְרַפְתַּנִיyou will findתִּמְצָאnothing;בַלI have resolved:זַמֹּתִיmy mouthפִּיwill notבַּלoverstep.יַעֲבָר
Psalms 17:3
Study it in the app“You have tested my heart, you have inspected it by night, you have refined me; you will find nothing; I have resolved: my mouth will not overstep.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Psalms 17:3, word by word
- You have testedבָּחַנְתָּbachanta
test, examine
Test, examine to find out whether something is true or genuine, as metal is tested.
Where else “bachanta” appears- my heartלִבִּlibi
heart
The deepest part of a person: where they think, feel and decide.
Where else “libi” appears- you have inspected itפָּקַדְתָּpakadta
attend to
To attend to someone; God comes to help.
Where else “pakadta” appears- by nightלַּיְלָהlayla
night
Night.
Where else “layla” appears- you have refined meצְרַפְתַּtserafta
test
To test people as silver is purified.
Where else “tserafta” appears- you will findתִּמְצָאtimtsa
find
To come upon what one seeks, or something not expected.
Where else “timtsa” appears- nothingבַלval
not
Not: a negative proper to Hebrew poetry; it denies strongly ("it will not be moved").
Where else “val” appears- I have resolvedזַמֹּתִיzamoti
resolve
To make up one's mind.
Where else “zamoti” appears- my mouthפִּpi
mouth
The part of the face with which one speaks, eats and kisses.
Where else “pi” appears- overstepיַעֲבָרyaavar
transgress
To break a covenant or command.
Where else “yaavar” appears
Translation note
“My mouth will not overstep”: it will not say more than it should; it will not sin in speaking.
The context
2From before you let my judgment come forth; let your eyes see uprightness.
3 · This verse (above)
4As for the deeds of human beings, by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the paths of the violent.