Psalm 18:21
New International Version
For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I am not guilty of turning from my God.

New Living Translation
For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

English Standard Version
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

Berean Standard Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.

King James Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

New King James Version
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

New American Standard Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not acted wickedly against my God.

NASB 1995
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

NASB 1977
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

Legacy Standard Bible
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

Amplified Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

Christian Standard Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not turned from my God to wickedness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not turned from my God to wickedness.

American Standard Version
For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

Contemporary English Version
I do what you want and never turn to do evil.

English Revised Version
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
because I have kept the ways of the LORD and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,

Good News Translation
I have obeyed the law of the LORD; I have not turned away from my God.

International Standard Version
because I have kept the ways of the LORD, and I have not wickedly departed from my God;

Majority Standard Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.

NET Bible
For I have obeyed the LORD's commands; I have not rebelled against my God.

New Heart English Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

World English Bible
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For I have kept the ways of YHWH, "" And have not done wickedly against my God.

Young's Literal Translation
For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not done wickedly against my God.

Smith's Literal Translation
For I watched the ways of Jehovah, and I acted not wickedly from my God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because I have kept the ways of the Lord; and have not done wickedly against my God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For I have preserved the ways of the Lord, and I have not behaved impiously before my God.

New American Bible
For I kept the ways of the LORD; I was not disloyal to my God.

New Revised Standard Version
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not revolted against my God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because I have kept the ways of LORD JEHOVAH, and I have not rebelled from my God.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For I have kept the way of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD is My Rock
20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. 21For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 22:22
For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.

Proverbs 8:32-36
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. / Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. / Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway. ...

1 Kings 3:14
So if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”

Deuteronomy 5:32-33
So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left. / You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

1 John 2:3-5
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. / If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. / But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:

Joshua 22:5
But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

1 Kings 9:4
And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and uprightness, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances,

Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, / and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?

Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,

2 Kings 23:3
So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Romans 2:13
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

Deuteronomy 6:17
You are to diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and the testimonies and statutes He has given you.


Treasury of Scripture

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

For I

Psalm 17:4
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Psalm 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.

Psalm 119:10,11
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments…

have not

Psalm 119:102
I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

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.

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.

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Psalm 18
1. David praises God for his manifold and marvelous blessings














For I have kept the ways of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the psalmist's commitment to following God's commandments and living according to His statutes. In the context of ancient Israel, "the ways of the LORD" would refer to the laws given through Moses, which were central to the covenant relationship between God and His people. The psalmist's declaration of faithfulness can be seen as a reflection of the covenantal promise found in Deuteronomy 28, where blessings are promised for obedience. This commitment is also echoed in the life of Jesus Christ, who perfectly kept the ways of the Lord, fulfilling the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17).

and have not wickedly departed from my God.
The phrase highlights the psalmist's steadfastness in maintaining a relationship with God, avoiding the path of wickedness. In the historical context, Israel often struggled with idolatry and turning away from God, as seen in the narratives of the Judges and Kings. The psalmist's assertion contrasts with the frequent apostasy of the Israelites, serving as a personal testimony of faithfulness. This steadfastness is a type of Christ, who remained sinless and obedient to the Father, even unto death (Philippians 2:8). The phrase also connects to the New Testament exhortation for believers to remain in Christ and not be led astray by false teachings (1 John 2:24-27).

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 18, David is expressing his devotion and faithfulness to God. This psalm is a song of deliverance, reflecting on how God has rescued him from his enemies.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. David's relationship with Yahweh is central to this verse.

3. Enemies of David
While not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of the psalm includes David's deliverance from his enemies, which underscores his reliance on God's ways.
Teaching Points
Faithfulness to God's Ways
David's declaration of keeping the ways of the LORD serves as a model for believers to remain faithful to God's commandments and teachings.

Avoiding Wickedness
The phrase "not wickedly departed" suggests a conscious effort to avoid sin and remain aligned with God's will. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives for areas where they may be straying from God's path.

Covenant Relationship with God
David's relationship with God is based on a covenant, which involves mutual commitment. Christians are reminded of their covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the importance of living in accordance with it.

Dependence on God for Deliverance
Just as David relied on God for deliverance from his enemies, believers are encouraged to trust in God's power and faithfulness in times of trouble.Verse 21. - For I have kept the ways of the Lord. Compare the statement of the young man whom Jesus "looked upon and loved' (Mark 10:21), "All these commandments have I observed from my youth" (ver. 20). And have not wickedly departed from my God. It is observed that the word translated by "departed wickedly" implies "wilful and persistent wickedness" ('Speaker's Commentary') - "an entire alienation from God" (Calvin). Not even in the humblest of the penitential psalms, when David is bewailing his great offence, does he use this verb of himself. He is an example to all men not to indulge in a false humility, nor employ phrases concerning himself which go beyond the truth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּֽי־ (kî·šā-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I have kept
שָׁ֭מַרְתִּי (mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

the ways
דַּרְכֵ֣י (dar·ḵê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and have not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

wickedly departed
רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי (rā·ša‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7561: To be, wrong, to disturb, violate

from my God.
מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃ (mê·’ĕ·lō·hāy)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Poetry: Psalm 18:21 For I have kept the ways (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 18:20
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