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Psalm 15
New English Translation
Psalm 15
New English Translation
Psalm 15[a]
A psalm of David.
15 Lord, who may be a guest in your home?[b]
Who may live on your holy hill?[c]
2 Whoever lives a blameless life,[d]
does what is right,
and speaks honestly.[e]
3 He[f] does not slander,[g]
or do harm to others,[h]
or insult his neighbor.[i]
4 He despises a reprobate,[j]
but honors the Lord’s loyal followers.[k]
He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise.[l]
5 He does not charge interest when he lends his money.[m]
He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent.[n]
The one who lives like this[o] will never be shaken.
Footnotes
- Psalm 15:1 sn Psalm 15. This psalm describes the character qualities that one must possess to be allowed access to the divine presence.
- Psalm 15:1 tn Heb “Who may live as a resident foreigner in your tent?”
- Psalm 15:1 sn In this context the Lord’s holy hill probably refers to Zion/Jerusalem. See Isa 66:20; Joel 2:1; 3:17; Zech 8:3; Pss 2:6; 43:3; 48:1; 87:1; Dan 9:16.
- Psalm 15:2 tn Heb “one who walks blamelessly.”
- Psalm 15:2 tn Heb “one who speaks truth in his heart”; or “one who speaks truth [that is] in his heart.” This apparently refers to formulating a truthful statement in one’s mind and then honestly revealing that statement in one’s speech.
- Psalm 15:3 sn Hebrew literature often assumes and reflects the male-oriented perspective of ancient Israelite society. The principle of the psalm is certainly applicable to all people, regardless of their gender or age.
- Psalm 15:3 tn Heb “he does not slander upon his tongue.” For another example of רָגַל (ragal, “slander”) see 2 Sam 19:28.
- Psalm 15:3 tn Or “his fellow.”
- Psalm 15:3 tn Heb “and he does not lift up an insult against one who is near to him.”
- Psalm 15:4 tn Heb “despised in his eyes [is] a rejected [one].” The Hebrew term נִמְאָס (nimʾas, “rejected [one]”) apparently refers here to one who has been rejected by God because of his godless behavior. It stands in contrast to “those who fear God” in the following line.
- Psalm 15:4 tn Heb “those who fear the Lord.” The one who fears the Lord respects his sovereignty and obeys his commandments. See Ps 128:1; Prov 14:2.
- Psalm 15:4 tn Heb “he takes an oath to do harm and does not change.” The phrase “to do harm” cannot mean “do harm to others,” for the preceding verse clearly characterizes this individual as one who does not harm others. In this context the phrase must refer to an oath to which a self-imprecation is attached. The godly individual takes his commitments to others so seriously he is willing to “swear to his own hurt.” For an example of such an oath, see Ruth 1:16-17.
- Psalm 15:5 sn He does not charge interest. Such an individual is truly generous, and not simply concerned with making a profit.
- Psalm 15:5 tn Heb “a bribe against the innocent he does not take.” For other texts condemning the practice of a judge or witness taking a bribe, see Exod 23:8; Deut 16:19; 27:25; 1 Sam 8:3; Ezek 22:12; Prov 17:23.
- Psalm 15:5 tn Heb “does these things.”
Psalm 15
New International Version
Psalm 15
New International Version
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
2 The one whose walk is blameless,(D)
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth(E) from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,(F)
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honors(G) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath(H) even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;(I)
who does not accept a bribe(J) against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.(K)
Psalm 15
Legacy Standard Bible
Psalm 15
Legacy Standard Bible
Who May Dwell on Your Holy Mountain?
A Psalm of David.
15 O Yahweh, who may [a]sojourn (A)in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your (B)holy mountain?
2 He who (C)walks blamelessly, and works righteousness,
And (D)speaks truth in his heart.
3 He (E)does not slander [b]with his tongue,
Nor (F)does evil to his neighbor,
Nor (G)takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 In [c]whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But [d]who (H)honors those who fear Yahweh;
He (I)swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He (J)does not put out his money [e]at interest,
Nor (K)does he take a bribe against the innocent.
(L)He who does these things will never be shaken.
Footnotes
- Psalm 15:1 Or abide
- Psalm 15:3 Lit according to
- Psalm 15:4 Lit his
- Psalm 15:4 Lit he
- Psalm 15:5 To a fellow Israelite
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