Psalms 101

1 A psalm for David himself. Mercy and judgment I will sing to thee, O Lord: I will sing,

Of David, a psalm. If kindness and justice I sing, making melody to you, Lord.

2 And I will understand in the unspotted way, when thou shalt come to me. I walked in the innocence of my heart, in the midst of my house.

I would look to the way that is blameless, and make it my own. Within my own house I would walk with an innocent heart.

3 I did not set before my eyes any unjust thing: I hated the workers of iniquities.

I would never direct my eyes to a thing that is base. The impulse to stray I abhor it shall not cling to me.

4 The perverse heart did not cleave to me: and the malignant, that turned aside from me, I would not know.

Far from me be perverseness of heart, or kinship with evil.

5 The man that in private detracted his neighbour, him did I persecute. With him that had a proud eye, and an unsatiable heart, I would not eat.

Who slanders their neighbour in secret, I bring them to silence: haughty looks and proud hearts I will not abide.

6 My eyes were upon the faithful of the earth, to sit with me: the man that walked in the perfect way, he served me.

I will favour the true in the land, they shall live in my court. Those who walk in a way that is blameless will be my attendant.

7 He that worketh pride shall not dwell in the midst of my house: he that speaketh unjust things did not prosper before my eyes.

No one will live in my house who practises guile. No one that speaks a lie will abide in my presence.

8 In the morning I put to death all the wicked of the land: that I might cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the Lord.

Morn by morn I will wholly wipe out all the bad in the land, and cut off from the Lord’s own city all workers of evil.