Psalm 119:9
New International Version
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

New Living Translation
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.

English Standard Version
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Berean Standard Bible
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

King James Bible
BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

New King James Version
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

New American Standard Bible
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

NASB 1995
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

NASB 1977
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word.

Legacy Standard Bible
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

Amplified Bible
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

Christian Standard Bible
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word.

American Standard Version
? BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Contemporary English Version
Young people can live a clean life by obeying your word.

English Revised Version
BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How can a young person keep his life pure? [He can do it] by holding on to your word.

Good News Translation
How can young people keep their lives pure? By obeying your commands.

International Standard Version
How can a young man keep his behavior pure? By guarding it in accordance with your word.

Majority Standard Bible
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

NET Bible
How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions!

New Heart English Bible
BET. How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

Webster's Bible Translation
BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed to it, according to thy word.

World English Bible
BETH How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[BETH] With what does a young man purify his path? To observe—according to Your word.

Young's Literal Translation
Beth. With what doth a young man purify his path? To observe -- according to Thy word.

Smith's Literal Translation
In what shall a youth cleanse his way? To watch according to thy word.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
[BETH] By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.

Catholic Public Domain Version
BETH. By what does an adolescent correct his way? By keeping to your words.

New American Bible
How can the young keep his way without fault? Only by observing your words.

New Revised Standard Version
How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
BETH. With what shall a young man cleanse his way in order that he may observe thy commandments?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Beth With what does a boy purify his way to keep your commandments?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherewithal shall a young man keep his way pure? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Wherewith shall a young man direct his way? by keeping thy words.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
8I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly forsake me. 9How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. 10With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.…

Cross References
Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

James 1:21-22
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. / Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, / so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Ephesians 5:26
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

1 Peter 1:22-23
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. / For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. / But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.

Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Proverbs 3:1-2
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; / for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.


Treasury of Scripture

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to your word.

shall

Psalm 25:7
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

Psalm 34:11
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Job 1:5
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

by taking

Psalm 119:11,97-105
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee…

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful…

Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple…

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BETH Clean Cleanse Guarding Guiding Heed It Keeping Observe Pure Purify Thereto Way Wherewith Wherewithal Word Young
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BETH Clean Cleanse Guarding Guiding Heed It Keeping Observe Pure Purify Thereto Way Wherewith Wherewithal Word Young
Psalm 119
1. This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience.
2. Aleph.
9. Beth
17. Gimel
25. Daleth
33. He
41. Waw
49. Zayin
57. Heth
65. Teth
73. Yodh
81. Kaph
89. Lamedh
97. Mem
105. Nun
113. Samekh
121. Ayin
129. Pe
137. Tsadhe
145. Qoph
153. Resh
161. Sin and Shin
169. Taw














How can a young man keep his way pure?
This opening phrase poses a question that resonates with the universal struggle for purity and righteousness, especially among the youth. The Hebrew word for "young man" is "na'ar," which can refer to a boy, lad, or servant, indicating a stage of life characterized by vigor and potential but also vulnerability to temptation. The term "keep" is translated from "shamar," meaning to guard, protect, or preserve, suggesting an active, vigilant effort. "Way" comes from "derek," which signifies a path or journey, symbolizing one's life conduct. "Pure" is derived from "zakah," meaning to be clean or clear, both morally and ceremonially. This phrase sets the stage for a discussion on the importance of intentionality and discipline in maintaining moral integrity.

By guarding it according to Your word
The answer to the question is found in this phrase, emphasizing the necessity of divine guidance. "Guarding" again uses the Hebrew "shamar," reinforcing the idea of diligent protection. The phrase "according to Your word" highlights the centrality of Scripture in the pursuit of purity. "Word" is translated from "dabar," which can mean speech, matter, or thing, but in this context, it refers to God's revealed will and commandments. This underscores the belief that the Bible is not just a historical document but a living guide for righteous living. The phrase suggests that adherence to God's word is not merely a passive acceptance but an active, conscious alignment of one's life with divine principles.

BETH.

(9) Wherewithal.--There can be little question that the right rendering of this verse is By what means can a young man purify his way, so as to keep it according to Thy word? but from Joshua 6:18 we might render keep himself. The English rendering, which follows the LXX. and Vulg. is, of course, possible, but the other is more natural and more in accordance with the general drift of the psalm. The answer is supposed, or rather left to be inferred, from the whole tenor of the psalm, which is that men, and especially-young men, whose passions and temptations are strong in proportion to their inexperience, can do nothing of themselves, but are dependent on the grace of God. The omission of a direct answer rather strengthens than impairs the impression on the reader.

We must not, from the mention of youth, conclude that this psalm was written in that period of life. Perhaps, on the contrary, it is one who, like Browning's Rabbi ben Ezra, while seeking how best to spend old age, looks back on youth, not with remonstrance at its follies, but with the satisfaction that even then he aimed at the best he knew.

Verse 9. - Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? It does not follow from this inquiry that the writer is a "young man" - rather the reverse. He is anxious to give advice to young men, which is naturally the part of one somewhat advanced in life. By taking heed thereto, according to thy Word. This is the answer to the question raised in clause 1. By looking to God's Word, and guiding himself thereby, the young man may "cleanse his way" - not otherwise.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
How
בַּמֶּ֣ה (bam·meh)
Preposition-b | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can a young man
נַּ֭עַר (na·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

keep his way
אָרְח֑וֹ (’ā·rə·ḥōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 734: A well-trodden road, a caravan

pure?
יְזַכֶּה־ (yə·zak·keh-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2135: To be translucent, to be innocent

By guarding it
לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר (liš·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

according to Your word.
כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ׃ (kiḏ·ḇā·re·ḵā)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


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OT Poetry: Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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