God’s Word Translation
Psalms 119:9
9How can a young person keep his life pure? ⌞He can do it⌟ by holding on to your word.
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 as I learn your regulations, which are based on your righteousness. 8I will obey your laws. Never abandon me. How can a young person keep his life pure? ⌞He can do it⌟ by holding on to your word. 10I wholeheartedly searched for you. Do not let me wander away from your commandments. 11I have treasured your promise in my heart so 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 rebellious ways. Remember me, O Lord, in keeping with your mercy and your goodness.
- Psalms 34:11Come, children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
- Job 1:5When they finished having their parties, Job would send for them in order to cleanse them from sin. He would get up early in the morning and sacrifice burnt offerings for each of them. Job thought, “My children may have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job offered sacrifices for them all the time.
- Job 13:26You write down bitter accusations against me. You make me suffer for the sins of my youth.
- Proverbs 1:4to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young—
- Proverbs 4:1Sons, listen to ⌞your⌟ father’s discipline, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
- Proverbs 5:7But now, sons, listen to me, and do not turn away from what I say to you.
- Proverbs 6:20My son, obey the command of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.
- Proverbs 7:7I was looking at gullible people when I saw a young man without much sense among youths
- Ecclesiastes 11:9You young people should enjoy yourselves while you’re young. You should let your hearts make you happy when you’re young. Follow wherever your heart leads you and whatever your eyes see. But realize that God will make you give an account for all these things when he judges everyone.
- Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember your Creator when you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years catch up with you. They will make you say, “I have found no pleasure in them.”
- Luke 15:13“After a few days, the younger son gathered his possessions and left for a country far away from home. There he wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle.
- 2 Timothy 2:22Stay away from lusts which tempt young people. Pursue what has God’s approval. Pursue faith, love, and peace together with those who worship the Lord with a pure heart.
- Psalms 119:11I have treasured your promise in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
- Psalms 1:1Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers.
- Psalms 19:7The teachings of the Lord are perfect. They renew the soul. The testimony of the Lord is dependable. It makes gullible people wise.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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