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Psalms 66:18

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

If I hold onto sin in my heart, the Lord will not listen to me:

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is saying that God won't listen to our prayers if we're secretly holding onto sin and refusing to let it go.

📚 Historical Context

Psalm 66 is a song of thanksgiving, likely written during a period of Israelite history when the people were celebrating God's deliverance from enemies or hardships, as seen in the broader context of the Psalms. In ancient Israelite culture, prayer was deeply tied to personal and communal purity, with the understanding that God required a sincere heart for true communication. This verse reflects the biblical emphasis on repentance as a prerequisite for answered prayer, drawing from the experiences of figures like David who expressed similar concerns in their psalms.

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