Bible Strands
Psalms 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist speaks to the Lord in the middle of a praise prayer (v. 17) and before affirming that God has heard (v. 19). He is stating a condition he believes governs whether God listens.
The words — אָ֭וֶן ('aven, H205) is not generic sin but entrenched wickedness; רָאִ֣יתִי (ra'iti, H7200) means "I had set my eyes on" or "I had considered," implying deliberate harboring rather than a momentary lapse.
The thread — The same logic appears in Proverbs 15:29 (the LORD is far from the wicked but hears the righteous), Proverbs 28:9 (a prayer turned from the law is detestable), and John 9:31 (God does not listen to sinners but to the one who does His will).
Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop assuming God is listening and instead check whether iniquity has been deliberately harbored in the heart. The verse is a diagnostic, not a comfort.
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
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Cross-references
- John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
- Proverbs 28:9 Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
- Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- James 4:3 And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.
- Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
- Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
- Job 36:21 Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.