Psalms 101:4-7

101:4 I will have nothing to do with a perverse person;

I will not permit evil.

101:5 I will destroy anyone who slanders his neighbor in secret.

I will not tolerate anyone who has a cocky demeanor and an arrogant attitude.

101:6 I will favor the honest people of the land,

and allow them to live with me.

Those who walk in the way of integrity will attend me.

101:7 Deceitful people will not live in my palace.

Liars will not be welcome in my presence.


tn Heb “a perverse heart will turn aside from me.” The adjective עִקֵּשׁ (’iqqesh) has the basic nuance “twisted; crooked” and by extension refers to someone or something that is morally perverse (see Ps 18:26). It appears frequently in the Book of Proverbs, where it is used of evil people (22:5), speech (8:8; 19:1), thoughts (11:20; 17:20), and life styles (2:15; 28:6).

tn Heb “know.” The king will not willingly allow perverse individuals to remain in his royal court.

tn Heb “[one who has] pride of eyes and wideness [i.e., arrogance] of heart, him I will not endure.”

tn Heb “my eyes [are] on the faithful of the land.”

tn The Hebrew text simply reads, “in order to live with me.”

tn Heb “one who walks in the way of integrity, he will minister to me.”

tn Heb “he will not live in the midst of my house, one who does deceit.”

tn Heb “one who speaks lies will not be established before my eyes.”