Proverbs 20:9

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?

Proverbs 20:9 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
English Standard Version (ESV)
9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"?
New Living Translation (NLT)
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?
The Message Bible (MSG)
9 For who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest?
American Standard Version (ASV)
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
9 Who can say, "I've made my heart pure. I'm cleansed from my sin"?
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
9 No one can say, "I have kept my heart pure. I'm clean. I haven't sinned."

Proverbs 20:9 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 20:9

Who can say, I have made my heart clean
The heart of than is naturally unclean, the mind, conscience, understanding, will, and affections; there is no part clean, all are defiled with sin; and though there is such a thing as a pure or clean heart, yet not as made so by men; it is God that has made the heart, that can only make it clean, or create a clean heart in men; it is not to be done by themselves, or by anything that they can do; it is done only by the grace of God, and blood of Christ: God has promised to do it, and he does it; and to him, and to him only, is it to be ascribed; I am pure from my sin?
the sin of nature or of action: such indeed who are washed from their sins in the blood of Christ; whose sins are all pardoned for his sake, and who are justified from all things by his righteousness; they are pure from sin, none is to be seen in them, or found upon them in a legal sense: they are all fair and comely, and without fault in the sight of God; their iniquities are caused to pass from them; and they are clothed with fine linen, clean and white, the righteousness of the saints: but then none are pure from indwelling sin, nor from the commission of sin; no man can say this, any more than the former; if he does, he is an ignorant man, and does not know the plague of his heart; and he is a vain pharisaical man; yea, a man that does not speak the truth, nor is the truth in him, ( 1 John 1:8 ) .

Proverbs 20:9 In-Context

7 The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both.
11 Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Job 15:14
  • 2. 1 Kings 8:46; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8
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