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Psalms 15

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Who Shall Abide in the LORD's Tabernacle 1–5

1
A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? ​
2
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. ​
3
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4
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. ​
5
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalm 15

Verse 1

abide in thy tabernacle — Gur is to sojourn as a guest and shakan (‘dwell’) is to stay permanently, so the question asks who may be received at the LORD’s tent. David had pitched a tent on Zion for the ark (2 Sam 6:17). Ps 24:3 asks the same of ‘the hill of the LORD’.

Verse 2

walketh uprightly — Tamim is whole or complete, the word of God’s call to Abram, ‘walk before me, and be thou perfect’ (Gen 17:1). The verse names conduct, work and speech in turn, and the truth is spoken ‘in his heart’, so that the words agree with what is meant.

Verse 4

sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not — The man keeps his oath when it costs him, as the Law requires: ‘he shall not break his word’ (Num 30:2). ‘Contemned’ is bazah, to despise; ‘honoureth’ is kabad, from the word for heavy, so the weight of honour goes to those who fear the LORD.

Verse 5

to usury — Neshek is interest, from the verb ‘to bite’. The Law forbade it towards a poor brother: ‘Take thou no usury of him, or increase’ (Lev 25:36). ‘Reward against the innocent’ is a bribe (Deut 16:19). ‘Never’ is olam, ‘for ever’, as in Ps 112:6, ‘he shall not be moved for ever’.