God’s Word Translation
Psalms 18:21
21because I have kept the ways of the Lord and I have not wickedly turned away 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed 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.
Context of Psalms 18:21
19He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me. 20The Lord rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back because 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. 23I was innocent as far as he was concerned. I have kept myself from 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 17:4I have avoided cruelty because of your word. In spite of what others have done,
- Psalms 26:1Judge me favorably, O Lord, because I have walked with integrity and I have trusted you without wavering.
- Psalms 119:10I wholeheartedly searched for you. Do not let me wander away from your commandments.
- Acts 24:16With this belief I always do my best to have a clear conscience in the sight of God and people.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless we were in our dealings with you believers.
- Psalms 119:102I have not neglected your regulations, because you have taught me.
- 1 Samuel 15:11“I regret that I made Saul king. He turned away from me and did not carry out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he prayed to the Lord all night.
- 1 John 2:19They left us. However, they were never really part of us. If they had been, they would have stayed with us. But by leaving they made it clear that none of them were part 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries