Psaume 15:3

3 Qui n'emploie pas sa langue à médire, qui ne fait point de mal à son prochain, et ne jette point l'opprobre sur son voisin;

Psaume 15:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 15:3

[He that] backbiteth not with his tongue
Is not a slanderer, a defamer, a tale bearer; a backbiter is one who privately, secretly, behind a man's back speaks evil of him, devours and destroys his credit and reputation: the word here used comes from (lgr) , which signifies the "foot", and denotes such a person who goes about from house to house, speaking things he should not, ( 1 Timothy 5:13 ) ; and a word from this root signifies spies; and the phrase here may point at such persons who creep into houses, pry into the secrets of families, and divulge them, and oftentimes represent them in a false light. Such are ranked amongst the worst of men, and are very unfit to be in the society of the saints, or in a church of Christ; see ( Romans 1:30 ) ( 2 Corinthians 12:20 ) ;

nor doeth evil to his neighbour:
to any man whatever, good or bad, friend or foe, whether in a natural, civil, or spiritual relation, either by words or deeds, to his person, property, or good name;

nor taketh up, a reproach against his neighbour;
does not raise any scandalous report on him himself, nor will he bear to hear one from another, much less will he spread one; nor will he suffer one to lie upon his neighbour, but will do all he can to vindicate him, and clear his character.

Psaume 15:3 In-Context

1 Psaume de David. Éternel, qui séjournera dans ton tabernacle? Qui habitera sur la montagne de ta sainteté?

2 C'est celui qui marche dans l'intégrité, et qui pratique la justice; qui dit la vérité telle qu'elle est en son cœur;

3 Qui n'emploie pas sa langue à médire, qui ne fait point de mal à son prochain, et ne jette point l'opprobre sur son voisin;

4 Qui regarde avec dédain l'homme méprisable, et honore ceux qui craignent l'Éternel; et s'il a juré, fût-ce à son dommage, il n'y change rien.

5 Il ne donne point son argent à usure et ne prend point de présent contre l'innocent. Celui qui fait ces choses ne sera jamais ébranlé.