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.
Parallel translations
- WEB In whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear Yahweh; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;
- BSB who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,
- NKJV In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
- NASB A despicable person is despised in his eyes, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change;
- NLT Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The godly despise what is vile, honor those who fear God, and keep their word even at personal cost. It matters because true integrity holds firm regardless of consequences.
Overview
This verse describes right moral discernment, valuing the godly and rejecting the vile, and keeping a sworn promise even when it proves costly. Faithfulness to one's word reflects the faithfulness of God himself. Christ supremely kept his covenant commitment to save his people, even though it cost him his life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Judg 11:35And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.
- Matt 5:33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
- Ps 101:6Mine 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.
- Ps 101:4A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
- Isa 32:5–6The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
- Ps 16:3But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
- 1 Jn 3:14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
- Job 32:21–22Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
- Ps 119:63I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
- Esth 3:2And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
- 2 Kgs 3:13–14And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
- Dan 5:17–31Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
- Josh 9:18–20And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
- 2 Sam 21:1–2Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
- Matt 12:49–50And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
- Acts 24:25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- Acts 28:10Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
- Acts 24:2–3And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
- Jas 2:1–9My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 15:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.