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Psalms 15

BSB·5 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1O LORDיְ֭הֹוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, whoמִי־mî- — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → may abideיָג֣וּרyā·ḡūr — to sojourn, dwell as a stranger, fearH1481 — Full Word Study → in Your tentבְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָbə·’ā·ho·le·ḵā — A tent; portable dwelling placeH168 — Full Word Study →? Whoמִֽי־mî- — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → may dwellיִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ןyiš·kōn — To dwell, inhabit, or settle in a placeH7931 — Full Word Study → on Your holyקָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃qāḏ·še·ḵā — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → mountainבְּהַ֣רbə·har — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study →? 2He who walksהוֹלֵ֣ךְhō·w·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → with integrityתָּ֭מִיםtā·mîm — Unblemished, whole, complete, perfectH8549 — Full Word Study → and practicesוּפֹעֵ֥לū·p̄ō·‘êl — to do, work, make, performH6466 — Full Word Study → righteousnessצֶ֑דֶקṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study →, who speaksוְדֹבֵ֥רwə·ḏō·ḇêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → the truthאֱ֝מֶ֗ת’ĕ·meṯ — Truth; faithfulness; reliability; what is established and sureH571 — Full Word Study → from his heartבִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃bil·ḇā·ḇōw — The inner self; mind, will, understandingH3824 — Full Word Study →, 3who has noלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → slanderרָגַ֨ל׀rā·ḡal — to spy out, scout, or gather intelligenceH7270 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → his tongueלְשֹׁנ֗וֹlə·šō·nōw — Tongue; language; speechH3956 — Full Word Study →, who doesעָשָׂ֣ה‘ā·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → noלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → harmרָעָ֑הrā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → to his neighborלְרֵעֵ֣הוּlə·rê·‘ê·hū — neighbor, friend, companion, associateH7453 — Full Word Study →, who casts no scornוְ֝חֶרְפָּ֗הwə·ḥer·pāh — Reproach, shame, insultH2781 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → his friendקְרֹֽבוֹ׃qə·rō·ḇōw — Near; close in space, time, or relationshipH7138 — Full Word Study →, 4who despisesנִבְזֶ֤ה׀niḇ·zeh — to despise, treat with contemptH959 — Full Word Study → the vileנִמְאָ֗סnim·’ās — to reject, despise, or spurn with contemptH3988 — Full Word Study → butוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ- — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → honorsיְכַבֵּ֑דyə·ḵab·bêḏ — to honor, glorify, or make heavy/weightyH3513 — Full Word Study → those who fearיִרְאֵ֣יyir·’ê — to fear, be afraid, dreadH3373 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, who does notוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → reviseיָמִֽר׃yā·mir — to change, exchange, or alterH4171 — Full Word Study → a costlyלְ֝הָרַ֗עlə·hā·ra‘ — to break, spoil, or do evilH7489 — Full Word Study → oathנִשְׁבַּ֥עniš·ba‘ — To swear an oath; to bind oneself by solemn promiseH7650 — Full Word Study →, 5who lendsנָתַ֣ןnā·ṯan — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → his moneyכַּסְפּ֤וֹ׀kas·pōw — Silver; money; price; valueH3701 — Full Word Study → withoutלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → interestבְּנֶשֶׁךְ֮bə·ne·šeḵ — Interest charged on a loan; usuryH5392 — Full Word Study → and refusesלָ֫קָ֥חlā·qāḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → a bribeוְשֹׁ֥חַדwə·šō·ḥaḏ — A bribe; a gift given to corrupt or influenceH7810 — Full Word Study → againstעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the innocentנָקִ֗יnā·qî — Innocent, blameless, free from guiltH5355 — Full Word Study →. He who doesעֹֽשֵׂה־‘ō·śêh- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → these thingsאֵ֑לֶּה’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study → will neverלֹ֖אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → be shakenיִמּ֣וֹטyim·mō·wṭ — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 15
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 15 is a powerful portrait of Christian character and integrity. The psalmist asks a fundamental question: who is truly welcome in God's presence and dwelling place? Rather than offering a complex theological answer, David provides a straightforward ethical and moral checklist that describes a person of genuine godliness. This psalm reminds us that genuine faith always expresses itself in holy living, and that God values integrity, truthfulness, and righteousness in our relationships with both Him and others.

Verses 1–2: The Question and Foundation of Character

David begins with one of Scripture's most vital questions: "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" He is asking who has the privilege of living in God's presence, both in worship and in eternal communion. The answer given in verse 2 is immediately practical: the person who walks uprightly, works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. Notice that David does not begin with abstract theology, but with concrete behavior. True faith produces genuine transformation. "Walketh uprightly" speaks of consistent, honest conduct in all circumstances. "Worketh righteousness" indicates active pursuit of what is right and good. "Speaketh the truth in his heart" reveals that integrity begins internally—it is not mere external performance, but flows from genuine conviction within.

Verses 3–4: Integrity in Speech and Relationships

The psalm now becomes more specific about how this character expresses itself. Verse 3 condemns three particular failures: backbiting (spreading harmful gossip with the tongue), doing evil to one's neighbor, and taking up false accusations. These offenses fracture community and violate the love command. In verse 4, we find both negative and positive dimensions of discernment: contemning (viewing with disdain) vile persons while honoring those who fear the Lord. This is not snobbery but spiritual wisdom—we discern character and align ourselves with the godly. The verse concludes with a stunning standard: "He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not." This means the righteous person keeps his word even when keeping it costs him personally. This is the opposite of convenience Christianity—it is covenantal loyalty.

Verse 5: Righteousness in Business and Justice

The final verse extends godly character into financial dealings. The prohibition against usury (charging exploitative interest) and taking bribes reflects God's concern for the vulnerable and the poor. In Old Testament context, this guarded those in genuine need from predatory lending. More broadly, it teaches that the person of God conducts all business with honesty and refuses to profit from injustice. "He that doeth these things shall never be moved" is the promise: such a person possesses unshakeable stability because his life is built upon the rock of God's character, not on compromised gain.

Application for Today

Psalm 15 challenges modern believers to examine whether our faith produces genuine moral transformation. Do we speak truth in all circumstances? Are our words free from slander and gossip? Do we keep commitments even when inconvenient? Are our financial dealings marked by honesty and concern for the vulnerable? This psalm assures us that God desires our holiness not as burdensome law, but as the pathway to stability, peace, and His presence. Through Christ's redemptive work, we are enabled to live this way—not by our own strength, but by the indwelling Spirit who transforms us from within.

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