King James Version
Psalms 101
8 verses with commentary
I Will Walk with Integrity
A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.</strong> This royal psalm begins David's solemn commitment to righteous rule, likely composed when he became king or during covenant renewal. The opening declaration sets the psalm's theme: balanced governance reflecting God's own character. "I will sing" (<em>ashirah</em>, אָשִׁירָה) appears twice, framing the verse with w...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Mercy and judgment**—or, as some render, *grace and right*—are the especially requisite attributes of a good monarch, or of magistrates generally. (See Matthew 23:23, where the failure to practise them is charged on the ruling class in Judæa at that time, though, of course, also required in the conduct of every man; Micah 6:8.) Here, no doubt, as almost all commentators have seen, they are f...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
7-12. This plea contemplates his relation to God as a sufferer in His cause. Reproach, domestic estrangement (Mr 3:21; Joh 7:5), exhaustion in God's service (Joh 2:17), revilings and taunts of base men were the sufferings.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 101
David's vow and profession of godliness.
--In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families, and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all that have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evil-doe...
Read full commentary →I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.</strong> David's commitment narrows from public governance (v. 1) to personal conduct. "I will behave myself wisely" (<em>askilah b'derek tamim</em>, אַשְׂכִּילָה בְּדֶרֶךְ־תָּמִים) uses <em>sakal</em> (שָׂכַל), meaning to act prudently, prosper, or have insight. T...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **Behave myself wisely.**—Literally, *I will look to a guileless way. *The root “to look” is that from which *maskîl *(Psalms 32, title) comes; hence some here see a reference to music, or song. But the Authorised Version is probably right, since the analogy of such words as “provident,” “circumspect,” shows how the idea of caution and then wisdom arises from that of looking. The English idiom...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
7-12. This plea contemplates his relation to God as a sufferer in His cause. Reproach, domestic estrangement (Mr 3:21; Joh 7:5), exhaustion in God's service (Joh 2:17), revilings and taunts of base men were the sufferings.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 101
David's vow and profession of godliness.
--In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families, and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all that have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evil-doe...
Read full commentary →I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. wicked: Heb. thing of Belial
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.</strong> David's commitment extends to what he allows to influence his mind and affections. "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" (<em>lo-ashit l'neged einai d'var-b'liya'al</em>, לֹא־אָשִׁית לְנֶגֶד עֵינַי דְּבַר־בְּלִיָּעַל) uses <em>beliya'al</em> (בְּלִיַּעַל), meani...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **I will set no. . . . . **—Mark the wisdom of the
resolve in a despotic monarch, who has only to speak to effect whatever he has looked on with desire.
**Wicked thing.**—*Thing *(*or, word*)* of Belial. *(See Note on Psalm 41:8.)
**I hate the work of them that turn aside.**—Or, *I* *hate the doing of false things, *according as we take the word in the concrete or abstract.
**It shall not clea...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-15. With increasing reliance on God, he prays for help, describing his distress in the figures of Psa 69:1, 2.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 101
David's vow and profession of godliness.
--In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families, and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all that have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evil-doe...
Read full commentary →A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
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KJV Study Commentary
The Hebrew 'froward' (iqqesh) denotes perversion or moral crookedness. David's resolve to distance himself from wickedness reflects the biblical principle of separation from evil (2 Cor 6:17). This verse establishes a standard for godly leadership: the ruler's personal holiness must precede his public administration. The Reformed emphasis on total depravity reminds us that such purity is only poss...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Froward.**—See Note, Psalm 18:26.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-15. With increasing reliance on God, he prays for help, describing his distress in the figures of Psa 69:1, 2.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 101
David's vow and profession of godliness.
--In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families, and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all that have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evil-doe...
Read full commentary →Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse addresses three sins: slander (lashon hara in Jewish tradition), pride, and arrogance. David's commitment to 'cut off' and not 'suffer' such people demonstrates zero tolerance for these character defects in his administration. The Hebrew for 'proud heart' (rechab lebab) indicates an expanded, haughty spirit. Reformed theology recognizes pride as the root of all sin, the very offense tha...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Whoso . . .**—The “informer” and the “haughty favourite” are no unknown characters in an Oriental court.
**Proud heart.**—Literally, *broad, *that is, extended with pride. (Comp. Proverbs 21:4.) But LXX. and Vulg., “insatiable.”
**Will not I suffer.**—In Hebrew a simple and expressive “I cannot,” to which we can supply “bear,” from Jeremiah 44:22. (Comp. Isaiah 1:13 : “I cannot away with.”)
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13-15. With increasing reliance on God, he prays for help, describing his distress in the figures of Psa 69:1, 2.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 101
David's vow and profession of godliness.
--In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families, and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all that have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evil-doe...
Read full commentary →Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. in a: or, perfect in the way
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.</strong> After negatively defining who David will exclude (vv. 3-5, 7-8), this verse positively describes who he will appoint to positions of influence. "Mine eyes shall be upon" (<em>einai b'ne'emunei-eretz</em>, עֵינַי בְּנֶאֶמְנֵי־אֶרֶץ) indicates intention...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
16-18. These earnest terms are often used, and the address to God, as indifferent or averse, is found in Psa 3:7; 22:24; 27:9, &c.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 101
David's vow and profession of godliness.
--In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families, and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all that have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evil-doe...
Read full commentary →He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. shall not tarry: Heb. shall not be established
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Deceit (remiyyah) and lies (sheker) represent fundamental breaches of covenant faithfulness. David's household standards mirror God's own character as one who cannot lie (Num 23:19, Titus 1:2). This verse establishes truth-telling as essential for fellowship with God's people. The Reformed doctrine of God's truthfulness undergirds all theology; similarly, God's people must be marked by veracity. C...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **Tarry in my sight**—*i.e.*, stand as a courtier in the royal presence. Comp. Homer:
“Hateful to me as gates of hell is he
Who hides one thing within his mind and speaks another.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
16-18. These earnest terms are often used, and the address to God, as indifferent or averse, is found in Psa 3:7; 22:24; 27:9, &c.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 101
David's vow and profession of godliness.
--In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families, and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all that have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evil-doe...
Read full commentary →I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.</strong> This concluding verse describes David's commitment to swift justice, particularly in Jerusalem. "I will early destroy" (<em>lab'qarim atzmit</em>, לַבְּקָרִים אַצְמִית) literally means "morning by morning I will destroy"—suggesting regular, diligent administration of jus...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **Early.**—Literally, *in the morning: *referring, as Perowne observes, to the Oriental custom of holding courts of law in the early morning (Jeremiah 21:12; 2Samuel 15:2; Luke 22:66; John 18:28).
**City of the Lord.**—For similar expressions, see Psalm 46:4; Psalm 48:2; Psalm 48:8. The city must bear out its name in its character.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Text Courtesy of Bi...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
16-18. These earnest terms are often used, and the address to God, as indifferent or averse, is found in Psa 3:7; 22:24; 27:9, &c.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 101
David's vow and profession of godliness.
--In this psalm we have David declaring how he intended to regulate his household, and to govern his kingdom, that he might stop wickedness, and encourage godliness. It is also applicable to private families, and is the householder's psalm. It teaches all that have any power, whether more or less, to use it so as to be a terror to evil-doe...
Read full commentary →