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Psalm 15:4

in whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

2He who walks blamelessly and does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;
3he who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;
4in whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;
5he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.
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Notice

The turn from whom you honor to an oath that hurts links your judgment of character with the cost of keeping your own word.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What shapes whom you honor, compared with this verse’s regard for those who fear YHWH?

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When has keeping your word cost more than you expected?

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How does the surrounding prohibition of slander shape your reading of despising a vile man?

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Connect

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
Judges 11:35When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my …Both connect a spoken commitment with pain: the psalm praises keeping an oath, while Jephthah laments being unable to go back.
Matthew 5:33“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’Both concern keeping vows: the psalm includes the cost of keeping them, and Matthew records the command against false vows.
Psalm 101:6My eyes will be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, he will serve me.Both describe regarding faithful people with favor: Psalm 15 honors those who fear the LORD, and Psalm 101 welcomes the faithful.
Psalm 24:4He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully.Both connect upright character with oaths: Psalm 15 rejects abandoning an oath, and Psalm 24 rejects swearing deceitfully.
Psalm 101:4A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.Both express rejection of wickedness, through despising a vile man in Psalm 15 and refusing involvement with evil in Psalm 101.
Jude 1:16These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.Both concern the grounds for honoring people: Psalm 15 names fear of the LORD; Jude describes respect used for gain.
1 John 3:14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death.Both give weight to how God’s people are treated: the psalm speaks of honor, and John speaks of love for brothers.
Isaiah 32:5–6The fool will no longer be called noble, nor the scoundrel be highly respected.Both reject granting honor to corrupt people: the psalm despises a vile man, and Isaiah denies the scoundrel high respect.
Psalm 16:3As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.Both express esteem for people devoted to God, through honor for those who fear the LORD and delight in the saints.
Deuteronomy 6:13You shall fear the LORD your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name.Both mention fear of the LORD and swearing an oath; Deuteronomy specifies swearing by God’s name.
Joshua 9:18The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. All the congregation …Both describe an oath being kept despite difficulty: Joshua records the princes honoring their oath while the congregation murmured against them.
2 Chronicles 16:3“Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with …Both concern binding commitments: the psalm praises keeping an oath despite cost, while Chronicles records payment offered to induce treaty-breaking.
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Thank one person whose reverence for God you respect

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Encouragement

The rejection of a vile man sits within a portrait that forbids slander and harm. Costly faithfulness honors God; a vow never makes doing evil a duty.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 15:4. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

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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).