Psalm 19:13

Translations

Modern

Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.

Traditional

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Literal

Also, hold back Your servant from proud things; may they not rule over me. Then I shall be complete, and cleansed of great transgression.

Latin

…et ab alienis parce servo tuo. Si mei non fuerint dominati, tunc immaculatus ero, et emundabor a delicto maximo.

Original

Hebrew

English

Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.

Notes

Psalms 19:13

A person who commits deliberate sins does so with a proud and defiant attitude (Psalm 86:14; 119:21, 69).
The great transgression is rebellion (see Psalm 32:1).

Psalms 19:12–14

The psalmist knows his weaknesses, so he prays to remain faithful and commits himself to the Lord.

Psalms 19:1–14

God's wisdom is clearly shown in many places:

It appears in the heavens (Psalm 19:1–4),

in nature (Psalm 19:4–6),
in his teachings (Psalm 19:7–11), and
in the life of the psalmist (Psalm 19:12–14)

Like Psalm 8, this hymn uses creation to lead people to reflect on God. It offers a calm moment after the intense prayers and victory songs in earlier psalms.

The psalm begins with creation as a source of wisdom. It then moves to God’s word as the perfect source of wisdom. Finally, it ends with the human need for redemption.

Psalms 15:1–19:14

The psalms in this section emphasize integrity and purity (Psalms 17:15; 18:20–26; 19:13–14). They describe people as living in God’s presence (Psalms 16:9–11; 17:15) and remaining steadfast (15:5; 16:8).

Theme notes and profiles

David Natural Revelation The Creator-King The Dangers of Sin The Limitations of Law

Related verses

Psalm 119:133
Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
Romans 6:12–14
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
Psalm 7:10
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
Acts 24:16
In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
1 Samuel 25:39
On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.
Deuteronomy 17:12–13
But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.
Genesis 20:6
Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
Exodus 21:14
But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.
Psalm 11:7
For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.
Psalm 18:23
And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity.
Romans 6:16–22
Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?

Glossary

Creation David Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

Innocence Presumption: General Scriptures Concerning Presumption: Pray to be Kept from Sins of Sin: Often Presumptuous Sin: we should Pray to God: To Keep Us From Uprightness: The Being Kept from Presumptuous Sins is Necessary To

Psalm 19:13

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?