The present invention relates to novel 4-(4-pyridyl)-benzamides of the formula (I). The compounds I possess valuable therapeutic properties and are suitable, in particular, for treating diseases that respond to modulation of Rho kinases (ROCKs). R1 and R2 are, independently of each other, hydrogen, hydroxy, cyano, C1-C8-alkyl, C1- C8-haloalkyl, C1-C8-alkoxy or C1-C8-haloalkoxy; R3, R4, R5 and R6 are, independently of each other, hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, cyano, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-haloalkyl, C1-C8-alkoxy, C1-C8-haloalkoxy, amino, C1-C8-alkylamino or di-(C1-C8-alkyl)-amino; R7 is hydrogen, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-haloalkyl, aryl or aryl-C1-C8-alkyl; R8 is a group of the formula -X-W, where X is a single bond, C1-C4-alkylene or C1-C4-alkylene-O-, where the alkylene group in the three last-mentioned radicals may be linear or branched and may be partly or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by a hydroxyl group and/or may be interrupted by an oxygen atom; and W is a cyclic radical selected from phenyl and a 5- or 6-membered saturated, partly unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring which contains as ring members 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S and N and optionally 1 or 2 carbonyl groups; R9 is a group of the formula -Y-Z, where Z is hydrogen, halogen, OR11, NR12R13, S(O)m-R14, phenyl which may carry 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents R15 or a 5- or 6-membered saturated, partly unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring; and Y is linear or branched C1C4-alkylene which may be partly or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by a hydroxyl group and/or a phenyl ring; or, in case Z is phenyl or the 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring as defined above, Y can also be a single bond.