God’s Word Translation
Psalms 17:4
4I have avoided cruelty because of your word. In spite of what others have done,
Psalms 17:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
- New International Version (NIV)Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.
- English Standard Version (ESV)With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
Context of Psalms 17:4
2Let the verdict of my innocence come directly from you. Let your eyes observe what is fair. 3You have probed my heart. You have confronted me at night. You have tested me like silver, but you found nothing wrong. I have determined that my mouth will not sin. I have avoided cruelty because of your word. In spite of what others have done, 5my steps have remained firmly in your paths. My feet have not slipped. 6I have called on you because you answer me, O God. Turn your ear toward me. Hear what I have to say.
Read all of Psalms 17Psalms 17:4 word by word
לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת אָ֭דָם בִּדְבַ֣ר שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ אֲנִ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אָרְח֥וֹת פָּרִֽיץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 17:4
- Psalms 14:1Godless fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. There is no one who does good things.
- Genesis 6:5The Lord saw how evil humans had become on the earth. All day long their deepest thoughts were nothing but evil.
- Job 15:16how much less will he trust the one who is disgusting and corrupt, the one who drinks wickedness like water.
- Job 31:33“If I have covered my disobedience like Adam and kept my sin to myself,
- 1 Corinthians 3:3because you’re still influenced by your corrupt nature. When you are jealous and quarrel among yourselves, aren’t you influenced by your corrupt nature and living by human standards?
- 1 Peter 4:2That way you won’t be guided by sinful human desires as you live the rest of your lives on earth. Instead, you will be guided by what God wants you to do.
- Psalms 119:9How can a young person keep his life pure? ⌞He can do it⌟ by holding on to your word.
- Proverbs 2:10Wisdom will come into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
- Matthew 4:4Jesus answered, “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.’ ”
- John 17:17“Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth.
- Ephesians 6:17Also take salvation as your helmet and God’s word as the sword that the Spirit supplies.
- James 1:18God decided to give us life through the word of truth to make us his most important creatures.
- Revelation 12:11They won the victory over him because of the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life so much that they refused to give it up.
- 1 Peter 5:8Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.
- Revelation 9:11The king who ruled them was the angel from the bottomless pit. In Hebrew he is called Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
Commentaries on Psalms 17:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The paths of the destroyer - Some render, hard or difficult paths, the sense of which is given above. But the passage is exceedingly obscure. My old Psalter translates and paraphrases as follows: - Trans. That my mouthe speke noght the werkes of men, for the wordes of thi lippes I haf keped hard wayse. Par - That es, that nothing passe of my mouthe bot at falles to the louyng of the; noght til werkes of men, that dos o gaynes thy wil; als to say, I spak…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Concerning the works of men - In respect to the works or doings of men. The reference is here probably to the ordinary or common doings of mankind, or to what generally characterizes the conduct of men. As their conduct is so commonly, and so characteristically wicked, wickedness may be spoken of as their “work,” and it is to this doubtless that the psalmist refers. In respect to the sinful courses or “paths” to which men are so prone, he says that he had…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5The psalmist declares his innocence (Psalm 17:1) and commits himself to integrity by being open to God’s examination.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. works of men--sinful practices. by the word of thy lips--as a guide (Psa 119:9, 11, 95). destroyer--violent man.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 17:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 17
- 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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