Psalms 101:4-7
Context101:4 I will have nothing to do with a perverse person; 1
I will not permit 2 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. 3
101:6 I will favor the honest people of the land, 4
and allow them to live with me. 5
Those who walk in the way of integrity will attend me. 6
101:7 Deceitful people will not live in my palace. 7
Liars will not be welcome in my presence. 8
1 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).
2 tn Heb “know.” The king will not willingly allow perverse individuals to remain in his royal court.
3 tn Heb “[one who has] pride of eyes and wideness [i.e., arrogance] of heart, him I will not endure.”
4 tn Heb “my eyes [are] on the faithful of the land.”
5 tn The Hebrew text simply reads, “in order to live with me.”
6 tn Heb “one who walks in the way of integrity, he will minister to me.”
7 tn Heb “he will not live in the midst of my house, one who does deceit.”
8 tn Heb “one who speaks lies will not be established before my eyes.”