Psalms 101

1 “By David, a psalm.” Of kindness and justice will I sing: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing praises.

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

2 I will carefully regard the way of the perfect: oh when will thou come unto me? I will walk in the integrity 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 will not set before my eyes a godless thing; to commit a departure [from righteousness] do I hate; it shall not cleave to me.

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 A perverse heart shall depart from me: evil will I not know.

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

5 Whoso slandereth in secret his neighbor, him will I destroy: whoso hath proud eyes and a haughty heart, him will I not suffer.

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

6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may abide with me: he that walketh in the way of the perfect, he it is that shall serve 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 practiseth deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that speaketh falsehoods shall not succeed 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 Every morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land, cutting off from the city of the Lord all the wrong-doers.

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.