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. Jehovah, who doth sojourn in Thy tent? Who doth dwell in Thy holy hill?

He who is walking uprightly, And working righteousness, And speaking truth in his heart.

He hath not slandered by his tongue, He hath not done to his friend evil; And reproach he hath not lifted up Against his neighbour.

Despised in his eyes `is' a rejected one, And those fearing Jehovah he doth honour. He hath sworn to suffer evil, and changeth not;

His silver he hath not given in usury, And a bribe against the innocent Hath not taken; Whoso is doing these is not moved to the age!

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