Psalms 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
BSB
ASV
If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear:
KJV
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
If I regard iniquity in my heart. If, having seen it to be there, I continue to gaze upon it without aversion; if I cherish it, have a side glance of love toward it, excuse it, and palliate it; The Lord will not hear me. How can he? Can I desire him to connive at my sin, and accept me while I wilfully cling to any evil way? Nothing hinders prayer like iniquity harboured in the breast; as with Cain, so with us, sin lieth at the door, and blocks the passage.
With these he unites his public thanks, inviting those who fear God (Ps 60:4; 61:5, His true worshippers) to hear. He vindicates his sincerity, inasmuch as God would not hear hypocrites, but had heard him.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
John 9:31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
leads to
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
Through
Proverbs 28:9Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
leads to
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
Through
Proverbs 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
leads to
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.