Psalms 119:9

ב (Bet) How can a young person ¹  maintain a pure life? ²  By guarding it according to your instructions! ³ 

Beth How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

Beth. How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.

<BETH> How may a young man make his way clean? by guiding it after your word.

How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

BETH. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

ב (Bet) How can a young person ¹  maintain a pure life? ²  By guarding it according to your instructions! ³ 

¹ tn Heb “young man.” Hebrew wisdom literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The principle of the psalm is certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender or age. To facilitate modern application, the gender specific “young man” has been translated with the more neutral “young person.”

² tn Heb “purify his path.”

³ tn Heb “by keeping according to your word.” Many medieval Hebrew mss as well as the LXX read the plural, “your words.”