the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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King James Version
Psalms 15:4
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Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord , and keep their promises even when it hurts.
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those that fear Yahweh; He that swears to his own hurt, and does not change;
They do not respect hateful people but honor those who honor the Lord . They keep their promises to their neighbors, even when it hurts.
He despises a reprobate, but honors the Lord 's loyal followers. He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise.
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the LORD. [He that] sweareth to [his own] hurt, and changeth not.
In whose eyes a vile man is despised, But who honors those who fear Yahweh; He who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn't change;
In his eyes an evil person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD [and obediently worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder]. He keeps his word even to his own disadvantage and does not change it [for his own benefit];
in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord ; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
A wickid man is brouyt to nouyt in his siyt; but he glorifieth hem that dreden the Lord. Which swerith to his neiybore, and disseyueth not;
who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,
They hate worthless people, but show respect for all who worship the Lord . And they keep their promises, no matter what the cost.
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honoreth them that fear Jehovah; He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;
Who gives honour to those who have the fear of the Lord, turning away from him who has not the Lord's approval. He who takes an oath against himself, and makes no change.
who look with scorn on the vile, but honor those who fear Adonai ; who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
In whose eyes the depraved person is contemned, and who honoureth them that fear Jehovah; who, if he have sworn to his own hurt, changeth it not;
They hate those who fail to please God and honor those who respect the Lord . If they make a promise to their neighbor, they do what they promised.
In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honoureth them that fear the LORD;
In whose eies a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that feare the Lord: he that sweareth to his owne hurt, and changeth not.
He looks down upon a sinful person, but honors those who fear the Lord. He keeps his promises even if it may hurt him.
in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord ; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that feare the Lord: he that sweareth to his owne hinderance & changeth not.
In whose eyes a detestable person is despised; but he honors them that worship the LORD; he that swears to his neighbor and lies not;
They despise those whom God rejects, but honor those who obey the Lord . They always do what they promise, no matter how much it may cost.
Despised in his sight, is the reprobate, but, them who revere Yahweh, he doth honour, he hath sworn to his neighbour, and will not change;
(14-4) In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his neighbour, and deceiveth not;
in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He that dispiseth in his eyes the reprobate: and honoureth them that feare God. He that hath sworne to his owne hurt: and yet wyll not go from his oth.
In his sight an evil-worker is set at nought, but he honours them that fear the Lord. He swears to his neighbour, and disappoints him not.
who despises the one rejected by the Lordbut honors those who fear the Lord,who keeps his word whatever the cost,
In whose eyes a vile man is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn't change;
In his eyes a rejected one is contemptible, but he honors those who respect Yahweh. He takes an oath to his own injury and does not retract it.
In his eyes, the reprobate has been despised, but he honors those who fear Jehovah: He has sworn to his hurt, and will not change it.
Despised in his eyes [is] a rejected one, And those fearing Jehovah he doth honour. He hath sworn to suffer evil, and changeth not;
He yt setteth not by the vngodly but maketh moch of the that feare the LORDE: he yt sweareth vnto his neghboure & dispoynteth him not.
A despicable person is despised in his eyes, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord ; He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,But who honors those who fear Yahweh;He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
a vile: Psalms 101:4, 2 Kings 3:13, 2 Kings 3:14, Esther 3:2, Job 32:21, Job 32:22, Isaiah 32:5, Isaiah 32:6, Daniel 5:17-31, Acts 24:2, Acts 24:3, Acts 24:25, James 2:1-9
but: Psalms 16:3, Psalms 101:6, Psalms 119:63, Matthew 12:49, Matthew 12:50, 1 John 3:14
sweareth: Joshua 9:18-20, Judges 11:35, 2 Samuel 21:1, 2 Samuel 21:2, Matthew 5:33
Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:12 - ye shall Deuteronomy 6:13 - shalt swear Joshua 6:22 - as ye sware unto her 1 Samuel 19:6 - sware 1 Kings 2:42 - Did I not 2 Chronicles 16:3 - break 2 Chronicles 19:2 - Shouldest Nehemiah 13:25 - cursed Esther 5:9 - he stood not up Job 30:8 - viler Psalms 24:4 - sworn Psalms 40:4 - respecteth Psalms 139:21 - Do not I Proverbs 26:1 - so Ezekiel 17:16 - whose oath Daniel 11:21 - a vile person Micah 3:2 - love Matthew 18:10 - heed 2 Timothy 3:3 - trucebreakers
Cross-References
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.
And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
Gill's Notes on the Bible
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned,.... A "vile" man is a very wicked, profligate, and abandoned creature, one that is to every good work reprobate; and such sometimes are in high places, Psalms 12:8; and are greatly caressed and esteemed by the men of the world; but then, as they are an abomination to God, they should be despised by his people, let them be what they will as to their riches, honours, and wisdom among men; as Haman was by Mordecai, Esther 3:2; and Ahab by Elisha, 2 Kings 3:14; and such who keep company with, and express a delight and pleasure in such sort of persons, ought by no means to have a place in the house of God. Some understand this of a good man being "despised in his own eyes", as it may be rendered f; on account of his vileness, and the imperfection of his obedience, and as expressive of his great humility, esteeming others better than himself; and who renounces himself, and is rejected by himself, having a very mean opinion of himself; which is the sense of the Targum, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi; and which is no bad sense, though the former is countenanced by what follows;
but he honoureth them that fear the Lord; who have the covenant grace of fear wrought in their hearts, and serve the Lord with reverence and godly fear; that is, who are truly religious and godly persons; these such who are fit members of the church of Christ love heartily, esteem of highly, and honour them by thinking and speaking well of them, and behaving with great respect and decency to them; see Romans 12:10;
[he that] sweareth to [his own] hurt, and changeth not; having taken a solemn oath, so sacred is it with him, and such a regard has he to the name of God, by whom he swears, that though it is to his civil loss and detriment, yet he will not break it and depart from it, but punctually observe it: some render it, "he that swears to his neighbour, and changeth not" g; he that is just to his word, faithful to his promises, that exactly fulfils all the obligations he lays himself under unto others; he that is honest and upright in all his dealings. The Jewish writers interpret this clause of a man's vowing and swearing to afflict himself by fasting, which, though it is to the emaciating of his body, yet he strictly observes his vow or oath; but this is foreign from the scope of the place: it might be rendered, "he that swears to do evil, and does not recompense or perform" h, it being better to break through such an oath than to keep it; see Leviticus 5:4.
f נבזה בעיניו "qui despicit se in oculis suis", so some in Vatablus; "ille est despectus in propriis oculis, reprobatus", Gussetius, p. 453. g להרע τω πλησιον αυτου, Sept. "proximo suo", V. L. Sic. Syr. Ar. Aethiop. h So Ainsworth.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned - That is, who does not show respect to a man of base or bad character on account of his wealth, his position, or his rank in life. He estimates character as it is in itself, and not as derived from rank, relationship, or station. While, as stated in the previous verse, he is not disposed to take up a false or evil report against another, he is at the same time disposed to do justice to all, and does not honor those who do not deserve to be honored, or apologise for base conduct because it is committed by one of exalted station or rank. Loving virtue and piety for their own sake, he hates all that is opposite; and where conduct deserves reprobation, no matter where found, he does not hesitate to avow his conviction in regard to it. The sentiment here is substantially the same as in Psalms 1:1. See the notes at that verse.
But he honoreth them that fear the Lord - No matter in what rank or condition of life they may be found. Where there is true piety he honors it. He is willing to be known as one that honors it, and is willing to bear all the reproach that may be connected with such a deeply cherished respect, and with such an avowal. Compare Psalms 1:1.
He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not - Who has made a promise, or entered into a contract, that is likely to turn out contrary to his expectations, to his own disadvantage; but who still adheres to his engagement. If the thing itself is wrong; if he has made a promise, or pledged himself to do a wicked thing, he cannot be under obligation to execute it; he should at once abandon it (compare the notes at Matthew 14:9); but he is not at liberty to violate an agreement simply because it will be a loss to him, or because he ascertains that it will not be, as he supposed, to his advantage. The principles here laid down will extend to all contracts or agreements, pecuniary or otherwise, and should be a general principle regulating all our transactions with our fellow-men. The only limitation in the rule is that above stated, when the promise or the contract would involve that which is morally wrong.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Psalms 15:4. In whose eves a vile person is contemned —
7. This man judges of others by their conduct; he tries no man's heart. He knows men only by the fruits they bear; and thus he gains knowledge of the principle from which they proceed. A vile person, נמאס nimas, the reprobate, one abandoned to sin; is despised, נבזה nibzeh, is loathsome, as if he were covered with the elephantiasis or leprosy, for so the word implies. He may be rich, he may be learned, he may be a great man and honourable with his master, in high offices in the state; but if he be a spiritual leper, an infidel, a profligate, the righteous man must despise him, and hold him, because he is an enemy to God and to man, in sovereign contempt. If he be in power, he will not treat him as if worthy of his dignity; while he respects the office he will detest the man. And this is quite right; for the popular odium should ever be pointed against vice.
Aben Ezra gives a curious turn to this clause, which he translates thus: "He is mean and contemptible in his own eyes;" and it is certain that the original, נבזה בעיניו נמאס nibzeh beeynaiv nimas, will bear this translation. His paraphrase on it is beautiful: "A pious man, whatever good he may have done, and however concordant to the Divine law he may have walked, considers all this of no worth, compared with what it was his duty to do for the glory of his Creator." A sentiment very like that of our Lord, Luke 17:10: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do."
Taken in this sense, the words intimate, that the man who is truly pious, who is a proper member of the Church militant, and is going straight to the Church triumphant, is truly humble; he knows he has nothing but what he has received, he has no merit, he trusts not in himself, but in the living God. He renounces his own righteousness, and trusts in the eternal mercy of God through the infinitely meritorious atonement made by Jesus Christ. The language of his heart is, -
"I loathe myself when God I see,
And into nothing fall;
Content that thou exalted be,
And Christ be all in all."
He honoureth them that fear the Lord —
8. This cause is a proof, however just the sentiment, that Aben Ezra has mistaken the meaning of the preceding clause. The truly pious man, while he has in contempt the honourable and right honourable profligate, yet honours them that fear the Lord, though found in the most abject poverty; though, with Job, on the dunghill, or, with Lazarus, covered with sores at the rich man's gate. Character is the object of his attention; persons and circumstances are of minor importance.
The fear of the Lord is often taken for the whole of religion; and sometimes for that reverence which a man feels for the majesty and holiness of God, that induces him to hate and depart from evil. Here it may signify the lowest degree of religion, repentance whereby we forsake sin.
Sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. —
9. If at any time he have bound himself by a solemn engagement to do so and so, and he finds afterwards that to keep his oath will be greatly to his damage; yet such reverence has he for God and for truth, that he will not change, be the consequences what they may. He is faithful also to his promises; his bare word will bind him equally with an oath. He that will not be honest without an oath will not be honest with one.
The Hebrew might be thus translated: "He sweareth to afflict himself, and does not change;" and thus the Chaldee has rendered this clause. He has promised to the Lord to keep his body under, and bring it into subjection; to deny himself that he may not pamper the flesh, and have the more to give to the poor.
