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What God Requires[a]

15 Lord, who may enter your Temple?
    Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?[b]

Those who obey God in everything
    and always do what is right,
whose words are true and sincere,
    and who do not slander others.
They do no wrong to their friends
    nor spread rumors about their neighbors.
They despise those whom God rejects,
    but honor those who obey the Lord.
They always do what they promise,
    no matter how much it may cost.
They make loans without charging interest
    and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will always be secure.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 15:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. Psalm 15:1 See 2.6.

Psalm 15

Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?

A Psalm of David.

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
    Who may dwell on your holy hill?(A)

Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right
    and speak the truth from their heart;(B)
who do not slander with their tongue
    and do no evil to their friends
    nor heap shame upon their neighbors;(C)
in whose eyes the wicked are despised
    but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;(D)
who do not lend money at interest
    and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.(E)

15 (0) A psalm of David:

(1) Adonai, who can rest in your tent?
Who can live on your holy mountain?

Those who live a blameless life,
who behave uprightly,
who speak truth from their hearts
and keep their tongues from slander;
who never do harm to others
or seek to discredit neighbors;
who look with scorn on the vile,
but honor those who fear Adonai;
who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
who refuse usury when they lend money
and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.

Those who do these things
never will be moved.

15 God, who gets invited
    to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?

“Walk straight,
    act right,
        tell the truth.

3-4 “Don’t hurt your friend,
    don’t blame your neighbor;
        despise the despicable.

“Keep your word even when it costs you,
    make an honest living,
        never take a bribe.

“You’ll never get
blacklisted
if you live like this.”