Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 17:3

"Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." — Psalms 17:3 (ASV)

In the night ()—This refers to the time of calm reflection and self-examination. Some, however, taking this verse in connection with Psalm 17:15, think the poem was composed at night.

I am purposed.—The Hebrew word presents a difficulty. It is better to take it as a noun—counsels, and here, as generally, evil counsels—and join it to the preceding words, not (as in the Authorized Version) the following words.

“You have proved my heart,
You have visited me in the night,
You have found no malice in me,
My mouth does not transgress, or
It (malice) does not pass my mouth.”

“I offend”—that is, “neither in thought nor word.” The Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, Chaldean, and Arabic versions support this arrangement.