Psalms 18 · Verse 23

Psalms 18:23

I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Psalms 18:23, King James Version

Psalms 18:23 in other translations

BSBAnd I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity.
WEBI was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
ASVI was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity.
YLTAnd I am perfect with him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity.
DARBYAnd I was upright with him, and kept myself from mine iniquity.
BBEAnd I was upright before him, and I kept myself from sin.
WebsterI was also upright before him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.

What does Psalms 18:23 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 23 I was also upright - The times in which David was most afflicted were the times of his greatest uprightness. Adversity was always to him a time of spiritual prosperity. Mine iniquity - Probably meaning what is generally termed the easily-besetting sin; the sin of his constitution, or that to which the temperament of his body most powerfully disposed him. What this was, is a subject of useless conjecture.

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 18:23 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.

וָאֱהִ֣יva.'e.Hiand I have beenH1961
תָמִ֣יםta.MimblamelessH8549
עִמּ֑וֹi.Mowith himH5973
וָ֝אֶשְׁתַּמֵּ֗רva.'esh.ta.Merand I have kept myselfH8104
מֵעֲוֹנִֽי\׃me.'a.vo.Nifrom iniquity myH5771

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

Cross references for Psalms 18:23

  • Matthew 18:8-9

    Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

  • Matthew 5:29-30

    And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

  • Psalms 37:27

    Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:17

    I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

  • 1 Samuel 26:23

    The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed.

  • Psalms 11:7

    For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

  • Psalms 17:3

    Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

  • Psalms 7:1-8

    Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
upright.
7:1-8:9; 11:7; 17:3; 37:27; 1Sa 26:23; 1Ch 29:17
before. Heb. with. I kept.
Mt 5:29,30; 18:8,9

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

Context

  • Psalms 18:22

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

  • Psalms 18:23

    I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

  • Psalms 18:24

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

Read all of Psalms 18

Psalms 18:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y fuí íntegro para con él, y cauteléme de mi maldad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car toutes ses ordonnances ont été devant moi; et ses statuts, je ne les ai pas écartés de moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich war vollkommen gegen ihn, und hütete mich vor meiner Ungerechtigkeit.