Proverbs 20:9

NETBible

Who can say, 1  “I have kept my heart clean; 2  I am pure 3  from my sin”?

NIV ©

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

NASB ©

Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin"?

NLT ©

Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin"?

MSG ©

For who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest?

BBE ©

Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?

NRSV ©

Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"?

NKJV ©

Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"?

KJV
Who can say
<0559> (8799)_,
I have made my heart
<03820>
clean
<02135> (8765)_,
I am pure
<02891> (8804)
from my sin
<02403>_?
NASB ©
Who
<4310>
can say
<559>
, "I have cleansed
<2135>
my heart
<3820>
, I am pure
<2891>
from my sin
<2403>
"?
LXXM
tiv
<5100> 
I-NSM
kauchsetai
<2744> 
V-FMI-3S
agnhn
<53> 
A-ASF
ecein
<2192> 
V-PAN
thn
<3588> 
T-ASF
kardian
<2588> 
N-ASF
h
<2228> 
CONJ
tiv
<5100> 
I-NSM
parrhsiasetai {V-FMI-3S} kayarov
<2513> 
A-NSM
einai
<1510> 
V-PAN
apo
<575> 
PREP
amartiwn
<266> 
N-GPF
NET [draft] ITL
Who
<04310>
can say
<0559>
, “I have kept
<02135>
my heart
<03820>
clean
<02135>
; I am pure
<02891>
from my sin
<02403>
”?
HEBREW
ytajxm
<02403>
ytrhj
<02891>
ybl
<03820>
ytykz
<02135>
rmay
<0559>
ym (20:9)
<04310>
NETBible

Who can say, 1  “I have kept my heart clean; 2  I am pure 3  from my sin”?

NET Notes

1 sn The verse is a rhetorical question; it is affirming that no one can say this because no one is pure and free of sin.

2 tn The verb form זִכִּיתִי (zikkiti) is the Piel perfect of זָכָה (zakhah, “to be clear; to be clean; to be pure”). The verb has the idea of “be clear, justified, acquitted.” In this stem it is causative: “I have made my heart clean” (so NRSV) or “kept my heart pure” (so NIV). This would be claiming that all decisions and motives were faultless.

3 sn The Hebrew verb translated “I am pure” (טָהֵר, taher) is a Levitical term. To claim this purity would be to claim that moral and cultic perfection had been attained and therefore one was acceptable to God in the present condition. Of course, no one can claim this; even if one thought it true, it is impossible to know all that is in the heart as God knows it.