Psalms 15:4

Psalms 15:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
• New King James Version (NKJV)In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
• New Living Translation (NLT)Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.

Context of Psalms 15:4

2The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Psalms 15:4 word by word

נִבְזֶ֤ה׀ בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו נִמְאָ֗ס וְאֶת־יִרְאֵ֣י יְהוָ֣ה יְכַבֵּ֑ד נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְ֝הָרַ֗ע וְלֹ֣א יָמִֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• In whose eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• a vile personמָאַסmâ'as · to rejectH3988
• is contemnedבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
• but he honourethכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
• them that fearיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• swearethשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
• hurtרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• and changethמוּרmûr · to changeH4171

Cross-references for Psalms 15:4

• Psalms 101:4The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil.
• 2 Kings 3:13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.”
• Esther 3:2All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
• Job 32:21I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone;
• Isaiah 32:5No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
• Daniel 5:17Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
• Acts 24:2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation.
• James 2:1My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
• Psalms 16:3I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
• Psalms 101:6My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
• Psalms 119:63I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.
• Matthew 12:49Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.
• 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
• Joshua 9:18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders,
• Judges 11:35When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.”
• 2 Samuel 21:1During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

Commentaries on Psalms 15:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4In whose eves a vile person is contemned - 7. This man judges of others by their conduct; he tries no man's heart. He knows men only by the fruits they bear; and thus he gains knowledge of the principle from which they proceed. A vile person, נמאס nimas, the reprobate, one abandoned to sin; is despised, נבזה nibzeh, is loathsome, as if he were covered with the elephantiasis or leprosy, for so the word implies. He may be rich, he may be learned, he may be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4In whose eyes a vile person is contemned - That is, who does not show respect to a man of base or bad character on account of his wealth, his position, or his rank in life. He estimates character as it is in itself, and not as derived from rank, relationship, or station. While, as stated in the previous verse, he is not disposed to take up a false or evil report against another, he is at the same time disposed to do justice to all, and does not honor…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5This wisdom poem contrasts the lifestyle of the righteous with the actions of fools (Psalm 14). The questions in this psalm invite people to examine themselves and not pay attention to problems with the wicked. The question of who dwells in God’s presence leads into a description of godly character qualities (compare Psalm 24:3–6; Isaiah 33:14–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Love and hate are regulated by a regard to God. sweareth ... hurt--or what so results (compare Le 5:4).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 15:4

• Company
• Fear of God
• Holiness
• Integrity
• Oath
• Righteous
• Righteousness
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Contemn
• Tabernacle
• God
• Papyrus
• Person, Personality
• Poetry, Hebrew
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings