Read
Psalm 101:3
I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.
1A Psalm by David. I will sing of loving kindness and justice. To you, LORD, I will sing praises.
2I will be careful to live a blameless life. When will you come to me? I will walk within my house with a blameless heart.
3I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.
4A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.
5I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won’t tolerate one who is arrogant and conceited.
Notice
David’s refusal to set vile things before his eyes confronts the choices behind your attention and the deeds you are willing to tolerate.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What distinction do you see between encountering something vile and choosing to set it before your eyes?
Write on thisWhat might faithless deeds clinging to a person look like in everyday life?
Write on thisWhere, if anywhere, might David’s resolve change what you choose to watch or admire?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 119:37Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.Both passages concern the eyes: David resolves to refuse vile things, while Psalm 119 asks God to turn the eyes from worthless things.
Job 31:1“I made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?Both describe a commitment concerning the eyes, with Job naming lustful looking as the specific thing he refuses.
James 1:13–15Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.The shared thread is opposition to evil: David rejects faithless deeds, while James says God tempts no one toward evil.
Romans 12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.Both express hatred of evil and use clinging language: David refuses attachment to faithless deeds, while Romans commands attachment to good.
2 Samuel 11:2–3At evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to …Both concern David and his eyes: the psalm records his resolve, while Samuel describes him seeing a woman bathing from his roof.
Proverbs 6:25Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.Both connect looking with moral choices; Proverbs names lust in the heart and being captivated by a woman’s eyelids.
Matthew 5:28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.Both treat chosen looking as morally significant; Jesus identifies gazing at a woman with lust as adultery in the heart.
Psalm 40:4Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.Both reject allegiance to faithless conduct: Psalm 101 refuses its deeds, while Psalm 40 blesses the person who does not respect liars.
1 Samuel 12:20–21Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your …Both take evil seriously: David vows to reject it, while Samuel urges people who have done evil to keep following the LORD.
Exodus 20:17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, …Both set moral boundaries, though Exodus addresses coveting a neighbor’s possessions and spouse rather than what someone sets before their eyes.
Proverbs 8:13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.Both speak of hating evil deeds; Proverbs connects that hatred with the fear of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 15:9Beware that there not be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, “The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,” and your eye be evil against your poor …Both link the eyes with evil; Deuteronomy makes the concern concrete in a calculating refusal to give to a poor brother.
Where this verse fits
Temptation. an ordinary day.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
David names the deeds he hates and resolves that they will not cling to him. Faithfulness includes what you choose to keep before your eyes.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 101:3. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 101 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).