God’s Word Translation
Psalms 18:20
20The Lord rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back
Psalms 18:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
Context of Psalms 18:20
18On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me, but the Lord came to my defense. 19He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me. The Lord rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back 21because I have kept the ways of the Lord and I have not wickedly turned away from my God, 22because all his judgments are in front of me and I have not turned away from his laws.
Read all of Psalms 18Psalms 18:20 word by word
יִגְמְלֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֣ה כְּצִדְקִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 18:20
- Psalms 58:11Then people will say, “Righteous people certainly have a reward. There is a God who judges on earth.”
- 1 Samuel 24:17He told David, “You are more righteous than I. You treated me well while I treated you badly.
- Proverbs 11:18A wicked person earns dishonest wages, but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay.
- Isaiah 49:4But I said, “I have worked hard for nothing. I have used my strength, but I didn’t accomplish anything. Yet, certainly my case is in the Lord’s hands, and my reward is with my God.”
- Isaiah 62:11The Lord has announced to the ends of the earth: “Tell my people Zion, ‘Your Savior is coming. His reward is with him, and the people he has won arrive ahead of him.’ ”
- Matthew 6:4Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
- 1 Corinthians 3:5Who is Apollos? Who is Paul? They are servants who helped you come to faith. Each did what the Lord gave him to do.
- Psalms 18:24The Lord paid me back because of my righteousness, because he can see that my hands are clean.
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this— if my hands are stained with injustice,
- Psalms 24:4⌞The one who⌟ has clean hands and a pure heart and does not long for what is false or lie when he is under oath.
- Psalms 26:6I will wash my hands in innocence. I will walk around your altar, O Lord,
- 1 Samuel 24:11My master, look at this! The border of your robe is in my hand! Since I cut off the border of your robe and didn’t kill you, you should know and be able to see I mean no harm or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you, but you are trying to ambush me in order to take my life.
- Hebrews 7:26We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.
Commentaries on Psalms 18:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20The Lord rewarded me - David proceeds to give the reasons why God had so marvellously interposed in his behalf. According to my righteousness - Instead of being an enemy to Saul, I was his friend. I dealt righteously with him while he dealt unrighteously with me.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness - That is, he saw that I did not deserve the treatment which I received from my enemies, and therefore he interposed to save me. Compare the note at Psalm 17:3. According to the cleanness of my hands - So far as my fellow-men are concerned. I have done them no wrong. Hath he recompensed me - By rescuing me from the power of my enemies. It is not inconsistent with proper views of piety - with true humility…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. 20-24The psalmist states that loyalty brings rewards. He trusts in the Lord (see Psalm 16:1) and promises to live with integrity (see Psalms 1, 15, 24; see also 19:12–14).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
Topics related to Psalms 18:20
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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