Psalms

Introduction
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PSALM 101^*

Norm of Life for Rulers

1A psalm of David.

I

I sing of mercy and justice;

to you, LORD, I sing praise.

2I study the way of integrity;^a

when will you come to me?

I act with integrity of heart

within my household.^*^b

3I do not allow into my presence anything base.

I hate wrongdoing;

I will have no part of it.^c

4May the devious heart keep far from me;

the wicked I will not acknowledge.

5Whoever slanders a neighbor in secret

I will reduce to silence.^d

Haughty eyes and arrogant hearts^e

I cannot endure.

II

6I look to the faithful of the land^*

to sit at my side.

Whoever follows the way of integrity^f

is the one to enter my service.

7No one who practices deceit

can remain within my house.

No one who speaks falsely

can last in my presence.^g

8^*Morning after morning I clear all the wicked from the land,

to rid the city of the LORD of all doers of evil.

* [Psalm 101] The king, grateful at being God’s chosen (Ps 101:1), promises to be a ruler after God’s own heart (Ps 101:2–3), allowing into the royal service only the God-fearing (Ps 101:3–8).

* [101:2] Within my household: the king promises to make his own household, i.e., the royal court, a model for Israel, banning all officials who abuse their power.

* [101:6] I look to the faithful of the land: the king seeks companions only among those faithful to God.

* [101:8] Morning after morning: the morning is the normal time for the administration of justice (2 Sm 15:2; Jer 21:12) and for the arrival of divine aid (Ps 59:17; 143:8; Is 33:2). I clear all the wicked from the land: the king, as God’s servant, is responsible for seeing that divine justice is carried out.

a. [101:2] Ps 26:11; Is 33:15.

b. [101:2] 1 Kgs 9:4.

c. [101:3] Prv 11:20.

d. [101:5] Prv 17:20; 30:10.

e. [101:5] Prv 21:4.

f. [101:6] Ps 26:11; Prv 20:7.

g. [101:7] Ps 5:5; Prv 25:5.