Psalms 18 · Verse 21

Psalms 18:21

For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Psalms 18:21, King James Version

Psalms 18:21 in other translations

BSBFor I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.
WEBFor I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
ASVFor I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
YLTFor I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not done wickedly against my God.
DARBYFor I have kept the ways of Jehovah, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
BBEFor I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not been turned away in sin from my God.
WebsterFor I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

What does Psalms 18:21 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.

Read the full comment on Psalms 18:20-24 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 I 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.

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…

Read the full comment on Psalms 18:20-28 →

Psalms 18:21 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.

כִּֽי\־ki.Sha-forH3588
שָׁ֭מַרְתִּיSha.mar.tiI have keptH8104
דַּרְכֵ֣יdar.Khei[the] ways ofH1870
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּיra.Sha'.tiI have acted wickedlyH7561
מֵאֱלֹהָֽי\׃me.'e.lo.Haifrom God myH430

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

Cross references for Psalms 18:21

  • Psalms 119:102

    I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

  • Psalms 26:1

    A Psalm of David. Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

  • Acts 24:16

    And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

  • Psalms 17:4

    Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

  • 1 John 2:19

    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

  • Proverbs 8:32

    Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:33

    And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And all his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:10

    Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

  • Psalms 119:10-11

    With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

  • 1 Samuel 15:11

    It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For I.
17:4; 26:1; 119:10,11; Ac 24:16; 1Th 2:10
have not.
119:102; 1Sa 15:11; 1Jo 2:19

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Psalms 18:22

    For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

Read all of Psalms 18

Psalms 18:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque yo he guardado los caminos de Jehová, y no me aparté impíamente de mi Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’ Éternel m’a récompensé selon ma justice, il m’a rendu selon la pureté de mes mains;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ich habe die Wege Jehovas bewahrt, und bin von meinem Gott nicht frevelhaft abgewichen.