Psalms 5:4

4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.

Psalms 5:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 You don't socialize with Wicked, or invite Evil over as your houseguest.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Evil shall not sojourn with thee.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness. Evil will never be your guest.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot lodge with You.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 God, you aren't happy with anything that is evil. Those who do what is wrong can't live where you are.

Psalms 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 5:4

For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness
Sin, ungodliness; it is contrary to his nature, who is holy, just, and good; and to his will revealed in his law, which is the same with his nature; and sin is a transgression of it. God is so far from taking pleasure in sin, that it is the abominable thing which his righteous soul hates; though this hinders not his voluntary permission of sin, or his decree of it; which he has willed, though he does not delight in it, in order to magnify the riches of his grace and mercy in the salvation of his people: nor is this contrary to the delight and pleasure which he takes in the persons of his elect in Christ, though they are sinners in themselves, and were so when he so loved them as to give his Son for them, and who died for them while they were yet sinners; and when he sends his Spirit to regenerate and sanctify them, and are after conversion guilty of many sins: for, though he delights in their persons, he has no pleasure in their sins; nor is it consistent with the holiness of his nature to take pleasure in wickedness, let it be committed by whomsoever;

neither shall evil dwell with thee;
that is, the evil man, who continues in a course of wickedness, and lives and dies in his sins. He has no communion with God here, nor shall he dwell with him hereafter; but shall be bid to depart from him, whether he be a profane sinner openly, or secretly a wicked professor of religion. The sense of the psalmist is, that since they were evil and wicked men, that were risen up against him, and gave him trouble, he entertained a strong confidence that God would hear him, for himself and his friends, whose cause was righteous; and appear against his enemies, who were wicked and ungodly men; and this he grounded upon the purity and holiness of God.

Psalms 5:4 In-Context

2 Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.
5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong;
6 you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, LORD, detest.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 1:5; Psalms 11:5; Psalms 92:15; Psalms 104:35; Proverbs 2:22
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.