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.


> Yahweh, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly does what is right, And speaks truth in his heart;

He who doesn't slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his friend, Nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

In whose eyes a vile man is despised, But who honors those who fear Yahweh; He who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn't change;

He who doesn't lend out his money for usury, Nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.

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/web/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/web/psalms/chapter-16">Psalms 16</a>.