New King James Version
Psalms 119:9
9How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according 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 Living Translation (NLT)How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
Context of Psalms 119:9
7I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. 8I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11Your word I have hidden in my heart, That 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 remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
- Psalms 34:11Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
- Job 1:5So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
- Job 13:26For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
- Proverbs 1:4To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—
- Proverbs 4:1Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;
- Proverbs 5:7Therefore hear me now, my children, And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
- Proverbs 6:20My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.
- Proverbs 7:7And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding,
- Ecclesiastes 11:9Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
- Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”:
- Luke 15:13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
- 2 Timothy 2:22Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Psalms 119:11Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
- Psalms 1:1Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
- Psalms 19:7The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries