New English Translation
Psalms 119:9
9How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions!
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 you sincere thanks, when I learn your just regulations. 8I will keep your statutes. Do not completely abandon me! ב (Bet) How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions! 10With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands! 11In my heart I store up your words, so I might 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 hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts! Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord!
- Psalms 34:11Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.
- Job 1:5When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s customary practice.
- Job 13:26For you write down bitter things against me and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth.
- Proverbs 1:4To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, and a discerning plan to the young person.
- Proverbs 4:1Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.
- Proverbs 5:7So now, children, listen to me; do not turn aside from the words I speak.
- Proverbs 6:20My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.
- Proverbs 7:7and I saw among the naive – I discerned among the youths – a young man who lacked wisdom.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.
- Ecclesiastes 12:1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth – before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
- Luke 15:13After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle.
- 2 Timothy 2:22But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
- Psalms 119:11In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.
- Psalms 1:1How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers!
- Psalms 19:7The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.
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
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