Psalms 66:18

18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

Psalms 66:18 in Other Translations

KJV
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
ESV
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
NLT
18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
MSG
18 If I had been cozy with evil, the Lord would never have listened.
CSB
18 If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Psalms 66:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 66:18

If I regard iniquity in my heart
There was iniquity in his heart, as there is in every good man's heart, and a great deal too; it is full of it; and it should be regarded in some sense, so as to guard against it, and pray to be kept from it, that it may not break forth into action; and so as to loath it, abhor it, and be humbled for it; but not so as to nourish and cherish it, to take delight and pleasure in it: or "if I look upon it" F8, as it may be rendered; that is, with approbation of it, and satisfaction in it, and ordered his conversation according to it; or acted the deceitful and hypocritical part in prayer; or had any evil intention in his petitions, to consume on his lusts what he asked for;

the Lord will not hear [me];
for the Lord hears not sinners that delight in sin, and live in it; neither profane sinners nor hypocrites; see ( John 9:31 ) ( Job 27:8 Job 27:9 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (ytyar Ma) "si vidi", Pagninus, Montanus; "si aspexi", V. L. "si conspexi", Gejerus.

Psalms 66:18 In-Context

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Deuteronomy 1:45; S 1 Samuel 8:18; Job 36:21; Isaiah 1:15; James 4:3
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