TG
Everything TrueGospel offers, in one place.

Study

Bible Reader Scripture Search Word Study & Lexicon Bible Study Builder Reading Plans Verse Chains

Reference

The Reference Library Topical Index

Learn

True Gospel Institute

Grow & Share

Blog Q&A Sermon Notes Bible Studies Podcast

Community

Community Student Dashboard

About

About Us Support Us Contact Log In Create Free Account
BSB
← Prev Next →

Psalms 101

BSB·8 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1I will singאָשִׁ֑ירָה’ā·šî·rāh — to sing, make musicH7891 — Full Word Study → of Your loving devotion and justiceוּמִשְׁפָּ֥טū·miš·pāṭ — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study →; to You, O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, I will sing praisesאֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃’ă·zam·mê·rāh — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study →. 2I will ponderאַשְׂכִּ֤ילָה׀’aś·kî·lāh — To act wisely; to understand, prosper, or give skillH7919 — Full Word Study → the wayבְּדֶ֬רֶךְbə·ḏe·reḵ — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → that is blamelessתָּמִ֗יםtā·mîm — Unblemished, whole, complete, perfectH8549 — Full Word Study →whenמָ֭תַיmā·ṯay — when, how long, until whenH4970 — Full Word Study → will You comeתָּב֣וֹאtā·ḇō·w — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → to meאֵלָ֑י’ê·lāy — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →? I will walkאֶתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ’eṯ·hal·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → inבְּקֶ֣רֶבbə·qe·reḇ — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study → my houseבֵּיתִֽי׃bê·ṯî — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → with integrityבְּתָם־bə·ṯām- — Integrity, completeness, wholeness, uprightnessH8537 — Full Word Study → of heartלְ֝בָבִ֗יlə·ḇā·ḇî — The inner self; mind, will, understandingH3824 — Full Word Study →. 3I willלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → setאָשִׁ֨ית׀’ā·šîṯ — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → noדְּֽבַר־də·ḇar- — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → worthless thingבְּלִ֫יָּ֥עַלbə·lî·yā·‘al — Worthlessness, WickednessH1100 — Full Word Study → beforeלְנֶ֥גֶדlə·ne·ḡeḏ — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study → my eyesעֵינַ֗י‘ê·nay — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →. I hateשָׂנֵ֑אתִיśā·nê·ṯî — to hate, despise, regard with hostilityH8130 — Full Word Study → the workעֲשֹֽׂה־‘ă·śōh- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → of those who fall awayסֵטִ֥יםsê·ṭîm — Rebellion, turning aside, apostasyH7846 — Full Word Study →; it shall notלֹ֖אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → clingיִדְבַּ֣קyiḏ·baq — to cling to, cleave fast, adhere closelyH1692 — Full Word Study → to me. 4A perverseעִ֭קֵּשׁ‘iq·qêš — Crooked, perverse, morally twistedH6141 — Full Word Study → heartלֵבָ֣בlê·ḇāḇ — The inner self; mind, will, understandingH3824 — Full Word Study → shall departיָס֣וּרyā·sūr — to turn aside, depart, removeH5493 — Full Word Study → from meמִמֶּ֑נִּיmim·men·nî — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study →; I will knowאֵדָֽע׃’ê·ḏā‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → nothing ofלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → evilרָ֝֗עrā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →. 5Whoever slandersמְלוֹשְׁנִיmə·lō·šə·nī — To slander, accuse, or speak maliciously against someoneH3960 — Full Word Study → his neighborרֵעֵהוּ֮rê·‘ê·hū — neighbor, friend, companion, associateH7453 — Full Word Study → in secretבַסֵּ֨תֶר׀ḇas·sê·ṯer — hiding place, shelter, concealmentH5643 — Full Word Study →, I will put to silenceאַ֫צְמִ֥ית’aṣ·mîṯ — To cut off, destroy utterly, consume completelyH6789 — Full Word Study →; the one with haughtyגְּֽבַהּ־gə·ḇah- — high, exalted, or lofty in position or characterH1364 — Full Word Study → eyesעֵ֭ינַיִם‘ê·na·yim — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → and a proudוּרְחַ֣בū·rə·ḥaḇ — Broad, WideH7342 — Full Word Study → heartלֵבָ֑בlê·ḇāḇ — The inner self; mind, will, understandingH3824 — Full Word Study →, I will notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → endureאוּכָֽל׃’ū·ḵāl — to be able, have power, endureH3201 — Full Word Study →. 6My eyes favor the faithfulבְּנֶֽאֶמְנֵי־bə·ne·’em·nê- — to trust, believe, be faithfulH539 — Full Word Study → of the landאֶרֶץ֮’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, that they may dwellלָשֶׁ֪בֶתlā·še·ḇeṯ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → with meעִמָּ֫דִ֥י‘im·mā·ḏî — With, alongside, in the presence ofH5978 — Full Word Study →; he who walksהֹ֭לֵךְhō·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → in the wayבְּדֶ֣רֶךְbə·ḏe·reḵ — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → of integrityתָּמִ֑יםtā·mîm — Unblemished, whole, complete, perfectH8549 — Full Word Study → shall minister to meיְשָׁרְתֵֽנִי׃yə·šā·rə·ṯê·nî — to minister, serve, or attendH8334 — Full Word Study →. 7Noלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → one who practicesעֹשֵׂ֪ה‘ō·śêh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → deceitרְמִ֫יָּ֥הrə·mî·yāh — deceit, treachery, or slothfulnessH7423 — Full Word Study → shall dwellיֵשֵׁ֨ב׀yê·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → inבְּקֶ֥רֶבbə·qe·reḇ — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study → my houseבֵּיתִי֮bê·ṯî — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study →; noלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → one who tellsדֹּבֵ֥רdō·ḇêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → liesשְׁקָרִ֑יםšə·qā·rîm — Deception, falsehood, lieH8267 — Full Word Study → shall standיִ֝כּ֗וֹןyik·kō·wn — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → in my presenceעֵינָֽי׃‘ê·nāy — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →. 8Every morningלַבְּקָרִ֗יםlab·bə·qā·rîm — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study → I will removeאַצְמִ֥ית’aṣ·mîṯ — To cut off, destroy utterly, consume completelyH6789 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the wickedרִשְׁעֵי־riš·‘ê- — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → of the landאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, that I may cut offלְהַכְרִ֥יתlə·haḵ·rîṯ — To cut; to make a covenantH3772 — Full Word Study → everyכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → evildoerפֹּ֥עֲלֵיpō·‘ă·lê — to do, work, make, performH6466 — Full Word Study → from the cityמֵֽעִיר־mê·‘îr- — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →.
Scripture Explorer
Original Language
Notes & Doctrine
Chapter Commentary
Cross-Refs
Highlight
My Note
Original Hebrew / Greek
Loading…
Translation Notes & Doctrine — This Verse
Loading…
Chapter Commentary — Psalms 101
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 101 is a solemn personal vow of moral and spiritual integrity, traditionally attributed to David. The psalmist commits before God to live according to righteous principles, both in his private life and in his leadership responsibilities. This is fundamentally a covenant of consecration—a declaration of loyalty to God's standards and a rejection of wickedness in all its forms. The psalm moves from personal devotion to God (verses 1–2) through personal discipline (verses 3–5), and then to wise leadership that promotes righteousness in the community (verses 6–8).

Verses 1–2: The Foundation—Praise and Personal Holiness

The psalmist opens with a commitment to sing of both mercy and judgment. This dual theme reflects the character of God Himself: His compassion toward the repentant and His justice toward sin. The phrase "unto thee, O LORD, will I sing" grounds this entire psalm in worship and accountability before God.

In verse 2, the psalmist declares, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way." The word "perfect" here (Hebrew tamim) means complete, whole, or blameless—not sinless perfection, but sincere, undivided devotion. Notice the question: "O when wilt thou come unto me?" This reveals longing for God's presence and recognition of human weakness. The promise "I will walk within my house with a perfect heart" emphasizes that holiness begins at home, in the private sphere where no one watches but God.

Application: Our integrity must be genuine in hidden places. The measure of our faith is not what we do in public, but how we live when no one is watching.

Verses 3–5: Personal Discipline—Guarding Heart and Associations

Verses 3 and 4 reveal the protective vigilance the psalmist will maintain. "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" addresses what we allow into our minds through sight—whether images, entertainment, or visual media. "I hate the work of them that turn aside" expresses active opposition to sin, not mere passive avoidance. The psalmist vows that such things "shall not cleave to me"—they will find no foothold in his life.

Verse 4 promises that "a froward heart shall depart from me." A "froward" (perverse, twisted) heart represents internal rebellion against God. The commitment "I will not know a wicked person" is not unkind isolation, but rather selective friendship—refusing intimate fellowship with those who practice and promote unrepentant wickedness.

In verse 5, the psalmist addresses specific sins: secret slander and pride. "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour" warns against gossip and character assassination done in darkness. Those with "an high look and a proud heart" represent arrogant defiance of God's authority. Such people will be "cut off"—removed from his circle of trust and influence.

Application: We must be intentional about guarding our eyes, hearts, and friendships. Genuine believers recognize that our associations shape our character.

Verses 6–8: Leadership Integrity—Building a Righteous Community

Here the psalmist shifts from personal discipline to communal responsibility, reflecting his role as a leader (likely David as king). Verse 6 shows the positive vision: "Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me." The psalmist commits to elevating and empowering godly people—giving opportunity to the faithful.

Verses 7–8 reinforce the zero-tolerance policy toward deception and wickedness. "He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight" establishes clear standards for those in leadership circles. Finally, verse 8 culminates in a determination: "I will early destroy all the wicked of the land"—using authority to remove corrupting influences from the community.

Application: Godly leaders must promote righteousness and remove obstacles to justice, even when it costs them politically or personally.

Application for Today

Psalm 101 calls every believer—not only those in formal leadership—to covenant with God for personal and relational integrity. We live in an age of moral compromise and spiritual dilution. This psalm challenges us to take seriously what we watch, whom we befriend, how we speak about others, and the standards we maintain in our homes. Jesus modeled this combination of compassion and conviction. As followers of Christ, we honor God by living wholeheartedly for Him, guarding our hearts above all else, and seeking fellowship with others committed to the same pursuit of holiness.

Cross References
Loading…
Highlight This Verse
My Note