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Psalm 15[a]

The Righteous Israelite

(A)A psalm of David.

I

Lord, who may abide in your tent?[b]
    Who may dwell on your holy mountain?

II

Whoever walks without blame,(B)
    doing what is right,
    speaking truth from the heart;
Who does not slander with his tongue,
    does no harm to a friend,
    never defames a neighbor;

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 15 The Psalm records a liturgical scrutiny at the entrance to the Temple court (cf. Ps 24:3–6; Is 33:14b–16). The Israelite wishing to be admitted had to ask the Temple official what conduct was appropriate to God’s precincts. Note the emphasis on virtues relating to one’s neighbor.
  2. 15:1 Your tent: the Temple could be referred to as “tent” (Ps 61:5; Is 33:20), a reference to the tent of the wilderness period and the tent of David (2 Sm 6:17; 7:2), predecessors of the Temple. Holy mountain: a venerable designation of the divine abode (Ps 2:6; 3:5; 43:3; 48:2, etc.).

Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?

A Psalm of David.

15 O Lord, who shall sojourn in thy tent?
    Who shall dwell on thy holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right,
    and speaks truth from his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue,
    and does no evil to his friend,
    nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;

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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.

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Footnotes

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

Description of a Citizen of Zion.

A Psalm of David.

15 Lord, who may reside (A)in Your tent?
Who may settle on Your (B)holy hill?
One who (C)walks with integrity, practices righteousness,
And (D)speaks truth in his heart.
He (E)does not slander [a]with his tongue,
Nor (F)do evil to his neighbor,
Nor (G)bring shame on his friend;

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 15:3 Lit according to

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;

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