Psalms 18 · Verse 20

Psalms 18:20

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
Psalms 18:20, King James Version

Psalms 18:20 in other translations

BSBThe LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
WEBThe LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, he has recompensed me.
ASVJehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
YLTJehovah doth recompense me According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, He doth return to me.
DARBYJehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
BBEThe Lord gives me the reward of my righteousness, because my hands are clean before him.
WebsterThe LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

What does Psalms 18:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 18:20-24
20-24. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 The 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 18:20-28
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 that to them which he has promised to be. The words of the Lord are pure words, very sure to be depended on, and very sweet to be delighted in. Those who resist God, and walk contrary to him, shall find that he will walk contrary to them, Le 26:21-24. The gracious recompence of which David spoke, may generally be expected by those who act from right motives. Hence he speaks comfort to the humble, and terror to the proud; "Thou wilt bring down high looks." And he speaks encouragement to himself; "Thou wilt light my candle:" thou wilt revive and comfort my sorrowful spirit; thou wilt guide my way, that I may avoid the snares laid for me. Thou wilt light my candle to work by, and give me an opportunity of serving thee. Let those that walk in darkness, and labour under discouragements, take courage; God himself will be a Light to them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 18:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יִגְמְלֵ֣נִיyig.me.Le.nihe has dealt with meH1580
יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahwehH3068
כְּצִדְקִ֑יke.tzid.Kiaccording to righteousness myH6664
כְּבֹ֥רke.Voraccording to [the] cleanness ofH1252
יָ֝דַ֗יya.Daihands myH3027
יָשִׁ֥יבya.Shivhe has repaidH7725
לִֽי\׃Lito me

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 18:20

  • Psalms 24:4

    He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

  • Matthew 6:4

    That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:8

    Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

  • Psalms 58:11

    So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

  • Job 22:30

    He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

  • Proverbs 11:18

    The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

  • Isaiah 62:11

    Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

  • Hebrews 7:26

    For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

  • Psalms 18:24

    Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

  • Psalms 7:8

    The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

  • Psalms 7:3

    O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

  • Isaiah 49:4

    Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
rewarded.
58:11; 1Sa 24:17,20; Pr 11:18; Isa 49:4; 62:11; Mt 6:4; 1Co 3:8
cleanness.
24; 7:3; 24:4; 26:6; 1Sa 24:11-13; Heb 7:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 18:19

    He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

  • Psalms 18:20

    The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

  • Psalms 18:21

    For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

Read all of Psalms 18

Psalms 18:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hame pagado Jehová conforme á mi justicia: conforme á la limpieza de mis manos me ha vuelto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il me fit sortir au large, il me délivra, parce qu’il prenait son plaisir en moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jehova vergalt mir nach meiner Gerechtigkeit, nach der Reinheit meiner Hände erstattete er mir.