Psalm 17:4
New International Version
Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.

New Living Translation
I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people.

English Standard Version
With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

Berean Standard Bible
As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

King James Bible
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

New King James Version
Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

New American Standard Bible
As for the works of mankind, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the ways of the violent.

NASB 1995
As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent.

NASB 1977
As for the deeds of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent.

Legacy Standard Bible
As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent.

Amplified Bible
Concerning the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept away from the paths of the violent.

Christian Standard Bible
Concerning what people do: by the words from your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Concerning what people do: by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

American Standard Version
As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But in speech of the lips you have kept me from the ways of evil.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
As for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have guarded myself from hard ways.

Contemporary English Version
I don't do like others. I obey your teachings and am not cruel.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways.

English Revised Version
As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I have avoided cruelty because of your word. In spite of what others have done,

Good News Translation
as others do; I have obeyed your command and have not followed paths of violence.

International Standard Version
As for the ways of mankind, I have, according to the words of your lips, avoided the ways of the violent.

JPS Tanakh 1917
As for the doings of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.

Literal Standard Version
As for doings of man, | Through a word of Your lips I have observed | The paths of a destroyer;

Majority Standard Bible
As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

New American Bible
as others often do. As your lips have instructed me, I have kept from the way of the lawless.

NET Bible
As for the actions of people--just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.

New Revised Standard Version
As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

New Heart English Bible
As for the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

Webster's Bible Translation
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

World English Bible
As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

Young's Literal Translation
As to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hear My Righteous Plea
3You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth. 4As for the deeds of men— by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.…

Cross References
Psalm 1:1
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.

Psalm 10:5
He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.

Psalm 19:11
By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.

Psalm 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

Psalm 119:101
I have kept my feet from every evil path, that I may keep Your word.


Treasury of Scripture

Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

works

Psalm 14:1-3
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good…

Genesis 6:5,11
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…

Job 15:16
How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

word

Psalm 119:9-11
BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word…

Proverbs 2:10-15
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; …

Matthew 4:4,7,10
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God…

destroyer

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Revelation 9:11
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

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Avoided Deeds Destroyer Doings Kept Lips Observed Paths Regard Violent Ways Word Works
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Psalm 17
1. David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense of God against his enemies
10. He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness
13. He prays against them in confidence of his hope














(4) Concerning the works of men--i.e., as regards the actions of men, or in ordinary human actions; for the expression comp. Job 31:33; and Hosea 6:7, where the margin has Adam.

By the word of thy lips.--Some take this clause closely with the foregoing, and render, "against the word," &c; but the Authorised Version is better. The Divine standard for action, not the human or worldly, influences the writer.

I have kept me.--Literally, I for my part have observed ways of violence. But usage (Proverbs 2:20) almost compels us to understand by this, "I have kept ways of violence," which is impossible here. Hence we have either to give the verb the unusual sense "guard against," or suppose an error in the text.

Verse 4. - Concerning the works of man; i.e. "with respect to the actions of ordinary life " - here called "the works of Adam" ? i.e. of the natural man. By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. By attending to thy Law, and following it (see Psalm 119:11), I have refrained myself from sin, and avoided the wicked courses of the violent (comp. 1 Samuel 24:4-10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As for the deeds
לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת (lip̄·‘ul·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 6468: A work, recompense

of men—
אָ֭דָם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

by the word
בִּדְבַ֣ר (biḏ·ḇar)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of Your lips
שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ (śə·p̄ā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

have avoided
שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי (mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

the ways
אָרְח֥וֹת (’ā·rə·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 734: A well-trodden road, a caravan

of the violent.
פָּרִֽיץ׃ (pā·rîṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6530: Violent, a tyrant


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OT Poetry: Psalm 17:4 As for the works of men (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 17:3
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