Psalm 15 is the 15th psalm in the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?"

In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 14. The Latin version begins "Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo".^[1]

The psalm is attributed to David. It is often called an 'entrance liturgy', in which a worshipper asks the conditions of entering the worship place and a priest answers.^[2] The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox Church and Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music, including compositions by Heinrich Schütz.

Text

Hebrew Bible version

Following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 15:^[3]

King James Version

1. Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4. In 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.
5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Analysis

According to the International Critical Commentary, "Ps[alm] 15 is a didactic poem, inquiring what sort of man is qualified to be a guest of Yahweh (verse 1); describing him in accordance with a decalogue of duties (verses 2-5b) and declaring such a man secure (verse 5c)."^[4] The duties listed emphasise virtues relating to one's neighbor.^[5]

The main topic of this psalm is "residence" (verse 1: "dwell"... "live") in God's "tent" (not "sanctuary") and how to be in 'holiness, without which no one sees God' (Hebrews 12:14).^[2]

Although the Psalm is captioned "A Psalm of David", and the Gemara also attributes this Psalm to David, Charles and Emilie Briggs considered this claim of authorship "unhistoric".^[6]

Context

In Psalm 12 the godly perished and in Psalm 14 there is none righteous. That leaves a rhetorical question as to "who can ascend the mountain of God?" which is an inclusio (a pair of literary bookends) in Psalms 15–24, appearing in Psalm 15:1 and Psalm 24:3.

In the context of the culture of the time, "who [then] can dwell in His tent" as a guest would not only be welcome but also come under his special protection.

In the context of David's time, the ark has been in Shiloh in the tabernacle, and David moves the ark to Mount Zion to a newly made tabernacle there.^[7]

Uses

Christianity

Some see a chiastic structure of Psalms 15–24, with Psalm 19 in the center.^[8]

Many see Jesus as the one who can climb the hill of God and dwell in God's sanctuary, with the church in Him. This is supported by the frequent use of the phrase "right hand [of God]" in each of Psalms 16–21, except for Psalm 19.^[9] The right hand of God usually refers to an act of salvation. This Psalm is appointed as one of the Proper Psalms for Ascension Day.^[10]

Charles Spurgeon sees this psalm as an expectation of fruit in a believer's life.

Without the wedding-dress of righteousness in Christ Jesus, we have no right to sit at the banquet of communion. Without uprightness of walk we are not fit for the imperfect church on earth, and certainly we must not hope to enter the perfect church above.^[11]

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the third day of the month,^[12] as well as at Mattins on Ascension Day.^[13]

Judaism

Verse 4 is found in the repetition of the Amidah during Rosh Hashanah.^[14]

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set a metric version of Psalm 15 in German, "Wer wird, Herr, in der Hütten dein", as part of the Becker Psalter, SWV 111.