Christianity

Psalms 15Who May Dwell With God?

Summary

Psalm 15 asks who may abide in the LORD's tent and dwell on his holy hill, then answers with a portrait of ethical life: walking uprightly, speaking truth from the heart, refusing slander, keeping one's word even at a cost, lending without interest and refusing bribes. It may reflect a liturgy of entry to the sanctuary. Jewish tradition treats it as a compact summary of the commandments.

Key verse

“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”

Psalms 15:1

Themes

Ethical Worship
Integrity
Truthful Speech
Keeping Promises

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

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

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.

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Judaism
Tehillim 15 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
In the Talmud (Makkot 24a) the qualities listed in this psalm are presented as David reducing the commandments to eleven principles, and later teachers used it as a pattern for daily ethics.
Christianity
Psalm 24: Who Shall Ascend
Psalm 24:3 to 4 asks a similar entry question and answers with clean hands and a pure heart, a close companion to Psalm 15.
Confucianism
Analects 1: Sincerity in Word
The opening book of the Analects stresses keeping faith in one's words and dealing honestly with others, a moral ideal close to Psalm 15, though grounded in human virtue rather than access to God.

Questions about Psalms 15

What are the requirements in Psalm 15?

The psalm lists walking uprightly, working righteousness, speaking truth in the heart, not slandering, not wronging a neighbor, honoring the God fearing, keeping oaths, refusing interest on loans and refusing bribes.

What does sweareth to his own hurt mean?

Psalm 15:4 praises the person who keeps a promise even when it turns out to be costly.