Psalms 101:5

5 I put a gag on the gossip who bad-mouths his neighbor; I can't stand arrogance.

Psalms 101:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 101:5

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off,
&c.] That raises and spreads a false report of him; that insinuates evil things of him; that brings false charges and accusations against him, in a private manner, when he has no opportunity to defend himself: such an one David threatens to cut off from his presence, as Kimchi interprets it; from all communion and conversation with him; and yet he listened to the slanders of Ziba against Mephibosheth: but Christ, who knows the hearts and the secret actions of men, will reject and cut off all persons of such a character: the Targum is,

``he that speaketh with a triple tongue against his neighbour, him will I destroy, and he shall be smitten with the leprosy:''

a slandering tongue is called a triple tongue with the Jews ^F13, because, as they say, it kills three persons; him that carries the slander, him that receives it, and him of whom it is related; see the Apocrypha:

``Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly.'' (Sirach 28:16)

him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer;
or, "I cannot" ^F14; that is, cannot bear him in my presence and company; cannot look upon him with any pleasure and delight: the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and the Oriental versions, render it, "with him I will not eat": have no familiarity or acquaintance with him; see ( 1 Corinthians 5:11 ) , such who looked above others, and with contempt upon them, whose hearts were large, as the word ^F15 signifies, were ambitious and insatiable, and never had enough of riches and honour; such were very contrary to David's character, and could never be agreeable to him, ( Psalms 121:1 Psalms 121:2 ) , as the proud and haughty Pharisees were not to Christ, ( Luke 18:9-14 ) , and the man of sin that exalts himself above all that is called God, that little horn, whose look is more stout than his fellows, ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ) ( Daniel 7:20 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 T. Bab. Erahin, fol. 15. 2. Vide Targum Jon. in Deut. 27. 4.
F14 (lkwa al) "non potero", Pagninus, Montanus, Gejerus; "ferre", Musculus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis.
F15 (bbl bxr) "vastum corde", Montanus; "latum corde", Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 101:5 In-Context

3 I refuse to take a second look at corrupting people and degrading things. I reject made-in-Canaan gods, stay clear of contamination.

4 The crooked in heart keep their distance; I refuse to shake hands with those who plan evil.

5 I put a gag on the gossip who bad-mouths his neighbor; I can't stand arrogance.

6 But I have my eye on salt-of-the-earth people - they're the ones I want working with me; Men and women on the straight and narrow - these are the ones I want at my side.

7 But no one who traffics in lies gets a job with me; I have no patience with liars. I've rounded up all the wicked like cattle and herded them right out of the country.