Psalms 101:1-6

1 I will sing of 1steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.
2 I will 2ponder the way 3that is blameless. Oh when will you 4come to me? I will 5walk with 6integrity of heart within my house;
3 I will not set before my eyes anything 7that is worthless. I hate the work of those who 8fall away; it shall not cling to me.
4 9A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will 10know nothing of evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor 11secretly I will 12destroy. Whoever has a 13haughty look and an 14arrogant heart I will not endure.
6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in 15the way that is blameless shall minister to me.

Psalms 101:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 101

\\<>\\. The title of this psalm, in the Syriac version, is, ``for Asaph, an exhortation of David, concerning those things which are required in the ministry of the house of the Lord; and a prophecy of the praise of the conqueror, and of the perfect man in God.'' Theodoret thinks it was written by David concerning good Josiah, whom he foresaw, by a spirit of prophecy, would rise up a great reformer of the people, and whom he proposes as a pattern of perfection to others; but it was, no doubt, written by him of himself; very likely, after he was delivered out of his troubles by the death of Saul, and was come to the kingdom, since he resolves to "sing of mercy and judgment": though by the interrogation, "when wilt thou come unto me?" it looks as if he had not arrived to the height of his honour: wherefore, perhaps, this psalm was penned between his being made king over Judah, and his being made king over all the tribes; but, be it as it may, the design of it is to show his resolutions, how he would behave as a king in his court, and as a master in his family; so that it is very instructive to kings and civil magistrates, and to parents and masters of families: and as David was a type of Christ, he seems, throughout the whole, to represent him; and, indeed, there are some things in it which agree with none so well as with him; such as behaving wisely, in a perfect way, and walking in his house with a perfect heart; not suffering any evil thing to cleave unto him, and knowing none, and the like.

Cross References 15

  • 1. [Exodus 34:7]
  • 2. [Psalms 4:4]
  • 3. Psalms 119:1; Proverbs 11:20; [Matthew 5:48]
  • 4. [Exodus 20:24; John 14:23]
  • 5. 1 Kings 9:4
  • 6. Psalms 78:72
  • 7. Deuteronomy 15:9
  • 8. See Psalms 40:4
  • 9. Proverbs 11:20; Proverbs 17:20
  • 10. [1 Corinthians 5:11]
  • 11. Psalms 15:3
  • 12. ver. 8
  • 13. Psalms 18:27; Psalms 131:1; Proverbs 6:17; Proverbs 21:4; Proverbs 30:13
  • 14. Proverbs 16:5
  • 15. Psalms 119:1; Proverbs 11:20; [Matthew 5:48]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.