English Standard Version
Psalms 18:21
21For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Psalms 18:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
- New International Version (NIV)For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
Context of Psalms 18:21
19He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. 20The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. 23I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.
Read all of Psalms 18Psalms 18:21 word by word
כִּֽי־שָׁ֭מַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 18:21
- Psalms 17:4With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
- Psalms 26:1Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
- Psalms 119:10With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
- Acts 24:16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
- Psalms 119:102I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.
- 1 Samuel 15:11"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.
- 1 John 2:19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Commentaries on Psalms 18:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21I have kept the ways of the Lord - I was neither an infidel nor a profligate; I trusted in God, and carefully observed all the ordinances of his religion.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For I have kept the ways of the Lord - I have obeyed his laws. I have not so violated the laws which God has given to regulate my conduct with my fellow-men as to deserve to be treated by them as a guilty man. And have not wickedly departed from my God - “I have not been a sinner from my God;” an apostate; an open violator of his law. The treatment which I have received, though it would be justly rendered to an open violator of law, is not that which I…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-28Verses 20-28 Those that forsake the ways of the Lord, depart from their God. But though conscious to ourselves of many a false step, let there not be a wicked departure from our God. David kept his eye upon the rule of God's commands. Constant care to keep from that sin, whatever it be, which most easily besets us, proves that we are upright before God. Those who show mercy to others, even they need mercy. Those who are faithful to God, shall find him all…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21kept the ways of the LORD: The psalmist follows God's instructions faithfully (see Psalm 25:8–10). have not wickedly departed: The psalmist avoids foolishness (see Psalms 1 and 14) and chooses wisdom (see Psalms 1 and 15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2420-24. The statements of innocence, righteousness, &c., refer, doubtless, to his personal and official conduct and his purposes, during all the trials to which he was subjected in Saul's persecutions and Absalom's rebellions, as well as the various wars in which he had been engaged as the head and defender of God's Church and people.Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 18
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries