Psalms 101King James Version
I will sing of mercy and judgment. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
A royal vow psalm. David declares his intentions for governance: he will sing of mercy and judgment; behave wisely with a perfect heart; set no wicked thing before his eyes; cut off slanderers; reject the proud-hearted. He will look to the faithful of the land to dwell with him and serve him. The deceitful will not dwell in his house. Every morning he will destroy the wicked of the city. The psalm is a charter for a just household and kingdom.
The king's private integrity (what he sets before his eyes, who he allows in his house) is the foundation of his public justice; what rules the bedroom governs the city.
verse: "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." The domestic vow anticipates the royal one: the king's vision determines his kingdom.
Superscription: 'A Psalm of David.' The domestic setting ('within my house,' 'before mine eyes,' v2-3) shifting to civic scope ('city of the LORD,' v8) mirrors how personal integrity connects to public governance. Likely composed at a moment of deliberate covenant renewal by the king. Opens the David-collection within Book 4 (101-103).
David as the king making domestic and civic vows; God as the addressed witness; the faithful of the land as the ones to be sought; the slanderer, the proud, the deceitful as those to be excluded.
Psalm 101 is the royal counterpart to Psalm 15's entrance liturgy: where Psalm 15 asks who may ascend, Psalm 101 is the king's answer about how he will govern. The sevenfold commitment structure parallels ancient Near Eastern royal loyalty oaths. Its application to every person in governance shaped Christian and Reformed political theology.
For when you want to make a genuine commitment about how you will lead, what you will allow, who you will surround yourself with. This psalm provides the framework.
1[A Psalm of David.] I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
2I 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.
3I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
5Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
6Mine 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.
7He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
8I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.