Side by side
Psalm 15
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: The QuestionVerse 1
"O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?" (15:1).
The tent is the tabernacle, God's dwelling place. The holy mountain is Zion, where the temple stood. The question is: who belongs in God's presence?
1A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?
Section 2: The AnswerVerses 2 to 5
"He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart" (15:2).
Integrity means being the same inside and outside. Truth comes from the heart, not just the lips.
"who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend" (15:3).
Words matter. Neighbors matter. A righteous person is careful with both.
"who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath" (15:4).
Not revising a costly oath means keeping a promise even when it is painful.
"who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken" (15:5).
The person who lives this way stands firm. Not because they earned it, but because they are rooted in God.
2He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, 3who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend, 4who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath, 5who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
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