The big picture
Psalms 15 opens in verse 1 with “LORD , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”, reaches its middle movement near verse 3 with “He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a…”, and closes in verse 5 with “He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He…” Repeated or prominent terms include doeth, LORD, neighbour, taketh, abide. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 5Psalms 15:1-5
1–5: LORD , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy…
Psalms 15:1–5 opens with “LORD , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” and reaches “He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 15 develops its own movement around doeth, LORD, neighbour, taketh, abide, with particular weight carried by doeth, LORD, neighbour.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Psalms 15:1-5
King James Version1LORD , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD . He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 15:1 begins with “LORD , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 15:1 forms a natural hinge: “LORD , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
The final note
Psalms 15:5 leaves the reader with “He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words doeth, LORD, neighbour, taketh, abide, backbiteth help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What is Abram invited to trust?
God's promise of an heir and innumerable descendants despite his present childlessness.
Why does the delay matter?
The covenant is larger than one lifetime and includes suffering before deliverance.
KJV words made clear
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.