Psalms 15: The Character That Dwells with God

A short checklist of what it means to walk uprightly.

Psalms 15: Who May Dwell With God?

Following the hope expressed at the end of Psalms 14, this chapter opens with a direct question: who may abide in God's tabernacle and dwell on His holy hill? The rest of the psalm answers with a concise list of honest, upright conduct.


A Psalm of David. HaShem, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell upon Thy holy mountain?

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart;

That hath no slander upon his tongue, nor doeth evil to his fellow, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour;

In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honoureth them that fear HaShem; he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;

He that putteth not out his money on interest, nor taketh a bribe against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

David names refusing slander, keeping promises even when costly, and lending without usury as marks of such a person, an ideal expanded in <a href="/bible/jps/psalms/chapter-24/3">Psalms 24:3-5</a>, closing with the promise that one who does these things shall never be moved, before <a href="/bible/jps/psalms/chapter-16">Psalms 16</a>.