I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

PSALMS 7:17KJV
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Psalms 7:17 (KJV)

What does Psalms 7:17 mean?

Psalms 7:17 expresses the speaker’s response to the LORD’s fairness. He promises to thank the LORD because the LORD does what is right, and he gives that thanks in song to the one he calls “most high.”

After the picture of wrongdoing returning on the wrongdoer in verse 16, the speaker turns to praise. “The name of the LORD” points to the LORD himself as known and spoken of by the people. Calling the LORD “most high” places him above every other power.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 7:17

  • “praise” — יָדָה (yadah): This word can carry the sense of giving thanks. The first “praise” in the verse presents the speaker’s words as a response to what the LORD has done.
  • “righteousness” — צֶדֶק (tsedeq): This word refers to what is right or just. Here it gives the reason for the speaker’s praise: the LORD’s right judgment.
  • “sing praise” — זָמַר (zamar): This word means to make music or sing praise. It shows that the speaker’s response takes the form of a song.

Why Psalms 7:17 matters

  • The speaker’s praise has a particular reason. The phrase “according to his righteousness” connects his song to the LORD’s fairness, rather than presenting praise as merely a change of mood.
  • The ending gives a different direction to the fear expressed earlier in the psalm. The speaker had asked the LORD to save him from his pursuers in verse 1; here, his own voice is raised in praise.

Where else these words appear

“praise” Hebrew H2167 · used in 41 verses

  • Judges 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
  • Psalms 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
  • Psalms 98:5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

“high” Hebrew H5945 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
  • 2 Chronicles 23:20 And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.
  • Psalms 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

“righteousness” Hebrew H6664 · used in 109 verses

  • Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
  • Psalms 58:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
  • Ecclesiastes 7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

“praise” Hebrew H3034 · used in 111 verses

  • Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
  • Psalms 9:1 To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
  • Psalms 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!