Add parallel Print Page Options

What God Requires[a]

15 Lord, who may enter your Temple?
    Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?[b]

Those who obey God in everything
    and always do what is right,
whose words are true and sincere,
    and who do not slander others.
They do no wrong to their friends
    nor spread rumors about their neighbors.
They despise those whom God rejects,
    but honor those who obey the Lord.
They always do what they promise,
    no matter how much it may cost.
They make loans without charging interest
    and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will always be secure.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 15:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. Psalm 15:1 See 2.6.

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

Lord, who may dwell(A) in your sacred tent?(B)
    Who may live on your holy mountain?(C)

The one whose walk is blameless,(D)
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth(E) from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,(F)
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
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;
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

A song of David.

A recurring theme in the psalms is the dwelling place of God and its importance in worship. This Davidic psalm considers the moral qualities of the person who wishes to approach God.

Eternal One, who is invited to stay in Your dwelling?
    Who is granted passage to Your holy mountain?

Here is the answer: The one who lives with integrity, does what is right,
    and speaks honestly with truth from the heart.
The one who doesn’t speak evil against others
    or wrong his neighbor,
    or slander his friends.
The one who loathes the loathsome,
    honors those who fear the Eternal,
And keeps all promises no matter the cost.
The one who does not lend money with gain in mind
    and cannot be bought to harm an innocent name.

If you live this way, you will not be shaken and will live together with the Lord.

15 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

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

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.