Amplified Bible
Psalms 119:9
9How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].
Psalms 119:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
- New International Version (NIV)How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
- English Standard Version (ESV)How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
- New King James Version (NKJV)How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
Context of Psalms 119:9
7I will give thanks to You with an upright heart, When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions]. 8I shall keep Your statutes; Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail]. How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts]. 10With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. 11Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Read all of Psalms 119Psalms 119:9 word by word
בַּמֶּ֣ה יְזַכֶּה־נַּ֭עַר אֶת־אָרְח֑וֹ לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 119:9
- Psalms 25:7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
- Psalms 34:11Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to fear the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].
- Job 1:5When the days of their feasting were over, Job would send [for them] and consecrate them, rising early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did this at all [such] times.
- Job 13:26For You write bitter things against me [in Your indictment] And make me inherit and suffer for the iniquities of my youth.
- Proverbs 1:4That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth,
- Proverbs 4:1Hear, O children, the instruction of a father, And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.
- Proverbs 5:7Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from (forget) the words of my mouth.
- Proverbs 6:20My son, be guided by your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction) And do not reject the teaching of your mother;
- Proverbs 7:7And among the naive [the inexperienced and gullible], I saw among the youths A young man lacking [good] sense,
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, young man, in your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant in the days of your young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desires of your eyes, but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.
- Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”;
- Luke 15:13A few days later, the younger son gathered together everything [that he had] and traveled to a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and immoral living.
- 2 Timothy 2:22Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Psalms 119:11Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
- Psalms 1:1Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).
- Psalms 19:7The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul; The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Commentaries on Psalms 119:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9A young man cleanse his way - ארח orach, which we translate way here, signifies a track, a rut, such as is made by the wheel of a cart or chariot. A young sinner has no broad beaten path; he has his private ways of offense, his secret pollutions: and how shall he be cleansed from these? how can he be saved from what will destroy mind, body, and soul? Let him hear what follows; the description is from God. 1. He is to consider that his way is impure; and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Wherewithal - This begins the second portion of the psalm, extending to Psalm 119:16, in which all the verses begin with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ב b ), indicated in our translation by the word Beth. These names of the letters, inserted for convenience, are no part of the psalm, as it is not so marked in the original. This mode of indicating the divisions of the psalm is special to our version. It is not in the Septuagint, the Latin…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-16Verses 9-16 To original corruption all have added actual sin. The ruin of the young is either living by no rule at all, or choosing false rules: let them walk by Scripture rules. To doubt of our own wisdom and strength, and to depend upon God, proves the purpose of holiness is sincere. God's word is treasure worth laying up, and there is no laying it up safe but in our hearts, that we may oppose God's precepts to the dominion of sin, his promises to its…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9A young person often acts foolishly (Proverbs 22:15) and can easily make mistakes that ruin their life (Proverbs 7:6–23). However, youth is the best time to build self-discipline and seek wisdom (see Psalm 34:11; Proverbs 1:4). keep his way pure: This means avoiding corruption by evil and sin and developing the integrity described in Psalm 15.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. The whole verse may be read as a question; for, by taking heed--is better, "for" taking heed, that is, so as to do it. The answer is implied, and inferable from Psa 119:5, 10, 18, &c., that is, by God's grace.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 119:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 119
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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