Bible Strands
Psalms 18:21
For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses the LORD in a psalm of deliverance, speaking immediately after declaring that God has rewarded him according to his righteousness and the cleanness of his hands.
The words — The Hebrew verb שָׁמַרְתִּי (sha-mar-ti) translates literally as "I have kept," and רָשַׁעְתִּי (ra-sha'-ti) means "I have acted wickedly," establishing the verse's structural contrast between faithful obedience and moral departure.
The thread — This pattern of covenant faithfulness reappears in Psalms 119:102, where the psalmist refuses to depart from taught ordinances, and in Psalms 26:1, where David appeals for vindication based on walking with integrity.
Why it lands — The text first records the speaker's claim of unwavering adherence to divine ways before demanding the reader verify their own alignment with those same commands.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Cross-references
- Psalms 119:102 I have not departed from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
- Psalms 17:4 As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
- Psalms 26:1 Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
- Proverbs 8:32 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
- Acts 24:16 In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
- 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
- 2 Chronicles 34:33 And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he required everyone in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
- 1 Samuel 15:11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.
- Psalms 119:10 With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.