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;
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;
- KJV 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.
- 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;
- 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 11:35When 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 mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.”
- Matt 5:33“Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’
- Ps 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.
- Ps 101:4A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.
- Isa 32:5–6The fool will no longer be called noble, nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
- Ps 16:3As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
- 1 Jn 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.
- Job 32:21–22Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.
- Ps 119:63I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts.
- Esth 3:2All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage.
- 2 Kgs 3:13–14Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
- Dan 5:17–31Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
- Josh 9:18–20The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.
- 2 Sam 21:1–2There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
- Matt 12:49–50He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers!
- Acts 24:25As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”
- Acts 28:10They also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.
- Acts 24:2–3When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight,
- Jas 2:1–9My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.
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.