Fathers

Psalms 17

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Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips. Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity. You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey. As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped. I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech. Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies. Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me. They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth. He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword; from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 17:8

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Keep Me, O Lord, as the apple of Your eye": which seems very little and minute: yet by it is the sight of the eye directed, whereby the light is distinguished from the darkness; as by Christ's humanity, the divinity of the Judgment distinguishing between the righteous and sinners. "In the covering of Your wings protect Me." In the defence of Your love and mercy protect Me.

Exposition on Psalm 17 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Next he sets forth the manner of deliverance, which is diligently and safely; therefore he says, "Guard me as the pupil of the eye." The pupil of the eye is guarded with diligence, because nothing that could harm it is permitted to approach; so also God does in guarding his servant: Deut. 32: "He led him about and taught him and guarded him as the pupil of his eye." Zech. 2: "He who touches you touches the pupil of my eye." Or according to the Gloss, the pupil of the eye is said to be Christ, who directs: Sir. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗

Bonaventure

A saint's life must be pure, that is, everything must be done out of love for God, and not out of love for something else, since all love is suspect if it is not addressed to God. "Keep me as the apple of your eye." The apple of the eye is not kept clean when there is mist or dust or liquid on it.

Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 19 ↗