Psalms 101:7

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

He that worketh {H6213} deceit {H7423} shall not dwell {H3427} within {H7130} my house {H1004}: he that telleth {H1696} lies {H8267} shall not tarry {H3559} in my sight {H5869}.

No deceitful person can live in my house; no liar can be my advisor.

No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence.

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes.

Psalms 101:7 (KJV) declares King David's strong commitment to personal integrity and righteous governance, setting a clear standard for those within his sphere of influence.

Context

Psalm 101 is often referred to as David's "vow of a king" or "a psalm of resolve." In this psalm, David lays out the principles by which he intends to rule his kingdom and conduct his personal life. It's a declaration of his commitment to justice, mercy, and holiness, aiming to create a court and a society free from wickedness. Verse 7 specifically addresses his policy regarding deceitful and lying individuals, emphasizing a strict separation from those who practice dishonesty. This commitment was not just a political stance but a reflection of his desire to honor God in his leadership.

Key Themes

  • Rejection of Deceit and Lies: The core message is an absolute intolerance for dishonesty. David vows to purge his immediate circle of anyone who practices fraud or falsehood, understanding that such traits undermine trust and righteousness.
  • Integrity in Leadership: This verse highlights the importance of a leader's personal character and the ethical standards they set for their administration. A just ruler cannot tolerate corruption or deception within their "house" or government.
  • Divine Standard: David's commitment mirrors God's own character. The Lord is a God of truth, and lying lips are an abomination to Him. David seeks to emulate this divine purity in his earthly reign.
  • Separation from Wickedness: The phrases "shall not dwell within my house" and "shall not tarry in my sight" signify a deliberate and complete exclusion. This isn't merely a preference but a firm policy to maintain a clean and trustworthy environment.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew phrase for "worketh deceit" is po'el remiyyah (פֹּעֵל רְמִיָּה), which can be translated as "one who practices treachery" or "one who performs fraud." It speaks to active, habitual deceit.
  • "He that telleth lies" comes from dover sheqer (דֹּבֵר שֶׁקֶר), meaning "one who speaks falsehood" or "a speaker of lies." This highlights the verbal aspect of dishonesty.
  • The strong verbs "shall not dwell" (לֹא יֵשֵׁב - *lo yeshev*) and "shall not tarry" (לֹא יִכּוֹן - *lo yikkon*) convey an absolute prohibition and exclusion, indicating a total banishment from presence and privilege.

Practical Application

Psalms 101:7 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Personal Integrity: We are called to be people of truth in all our dealings, rejecting both active deceit and casual falsehoods. Our words and actions should align with honesty.
  • Choosing Associations: Just as David sought to keep his "house" clean, we should be mindful of the company we keep. While we are to love all people, we should choose our closest companions and influences wisely, seeking those who value truth and integrity. Bad company can corrupt good morals.
  • Leadership in Any Sphere: Whether in a family, business, church, or community, leaders bear a responsibility to foster environments of truth and accountability, actively discouraging and addressing dishonesty.
  • The Church as God's House: As members of God's spiritual "house," the church, we are called to uphold truth, remembering that God Himself is the ultimate truth (John 14:6) and we are to speak truth in love.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 1:16

    Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

  • Acts 1:20

    For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

  • 2 Samuel 4:10

    When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who [thought] that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

  • 2 Samuel 4:12

    And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged [them] up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried [it] in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

  • Acts 5:1

    ¶ But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

  • Acts 5:10

    Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying [her] forth, buried [her] by her husband.

  • 2 Kings 5:26

    And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
← Back