Psalms 101

1 A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and judgment: to thee, O LORD, will I sing.

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

2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

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 set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; 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: I will not know a wicked person.

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

5 Whoever secretly slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart I will not endure.

Who slanders their neighbor 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 dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

I will favor 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 deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

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

8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all who practise wickedness 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.