Psalm 15:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

NIV: whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;

NASB: He does not slander with his tongue, Nor do evil to his neighbor, Nor bring shame on his friend;

CSB: who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,

NLT: Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

KJV: He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

NKJV: He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

David describes the Lord's guest (Psalm 15:1) as a person of integrity and peace. He doesn't slander others, nor does he harm his neighbor. Furthermore, he does not lie about his neighbor.

Believers today ought to avoid using language that harms others. They show by their speech that they are followers of Jesus, who is the truth (John 14:6). They speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and display the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22–23). This also includes avoiding slander: unkind or untrue words that harm another person's reputation.

The wicked person poisons society by slander, but the person who reflects God's nature uses speech that is gracious and seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). The wicked person is like the robbers who assaulted the man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. The righteous man is like the Good Samaritan who ministered to the wounded traveler (Luke 10:25–37). He shows compassionate love and care for his neighbor.

Psalm 15:2–5 describes the person who is qualified to be the Lord's guest in the tabernacle (Psalm 15:1). This is not an explanation of "how" a person comes to be qualified. Rather, it describes "what" a person's life looks like to honor God and reflect His goodness. While not a direct parallel, the ten ideas given here complement the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17).

David raises the question of what it looks like to live worthy of the presence of God, even knowing such a thing is not entirely possible in this life (Psalm 51:1–2; 143:2; Romans 3:23). Such a person develops a good reputation as they live and speak truthfully. The righteous person serves God obediently, refrains from slander, and does not harm his neighbor in any way. He recognizes the difference between those who ignore God and those who honor Him. A righteous person is true to his word even when such integrity hurts. He does not take advantage of those who need to borrow money, nor accept bribes. The truly righteous person is secure forever, and nothing can shake him from his relationship with the Lord.

The psalms immediately preceding this describe the wicked who deny God's existence and assault the poor. Here, David describes the lifestyle of a righteous person. David makes these comments knowing no human being is without flaws (Psalm 51:1–2; 143:2). Ideally, however, a believer honors the Lord and relates righteously to his neighbor. David may have written this psalm after bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 5/2/2024 5:18:34 PM