Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 15תהלים 15

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 15 (5 verses in the MT) opens: [A Psalm of David.] YHWH, who shall abide in your tabernacle? who shall dwell in your holy hill? The middle of the chapter continues: backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. It closes: putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these shall never be moved.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 15 comprises 5 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [A Psalm of David. [A Psalm of David.] YHWH, who shall abide in your tabernacle? who shall dwell in your holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth. Movement II (vv. 5) — putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innoce. putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these shall never be moved. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְ֭הֹוָה מִי יָג֣וּר בְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָ מִֽי יִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ן בְּהַ֣ר קָדְשֶֽׁךָ

[A Psalm of David.] YHWH, who shall abide in your tabernacle? who shall dwell in your holy hill?

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'sojourns'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
מִזְמ֗וֹרpsalmN c · מִזְמוֹר (H4210)Construct chain (genitival)מִזְמוֹר (H4210) 'psalm'.
לְדָ֫וִ֥דtoprep + N proper · דָּוִד (H1732)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דָּוִד (H1732) 'to'.
יְ֭הֹוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
מִיwhointerrog. · מִי (H4310)Particle or relational elementמִי (H4310) 'who'.
יָג֣וּרsojournsQal impf 3ms · גּוּר (H1481)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalגּוּר (H1481) 'sojourns'.
בְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָthe tent ofprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 2ms · אֹהֶל (H168)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֹהֶל (H168) 'the tent of'.
מִֽיwhointerrog. · מִי (H4310)Particle or relational elementמִי (H4310) 'who'.
יִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ןhe dwellsQal impf 3ms · שָׁכַן (H7931)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalשָׁכַן (H7931) 'he dwells'.
בְּהַ֣רon the mountainprep + N com m sg constr · הַר (H2022)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הַר (H2022) 'on the mountain'.
קָדְשֶֽׁךָyour holyN c · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Construct chain (genitival)קֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'your holy'.
2

הוֹלֵ֣ךְ תָּ֭מִים וּפֹעֵ֥ל צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֥ר אֱ֝מֶ֗ת בִּלְבָבֽוֹ

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'walking'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
הוֹלֵ֣ךְwalkingQal ptc ms · הָלַךְ (H1980)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorהָלַךְ (H1980) 'walking'.
תָּ֭מִיםwithout blemishAdj · תָּמִים (H8549)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)תָּמִים (H8549) 'without blemish'.
וּפֹעֵ֥לdidconj וְ + Qal ptc ms · פָּעַל (H6466)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorפָּעַל (H6466) 'did'.
צֶ֑דֶקjustN c · צֶדֶק (H6664)Construct chain (genitival)צֶדֶק (H6664) 'just'.
וְדֹבֵ֥רand he shall speakconj וְ + Qal ptc ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorדִּבֶּר (H1696) 'and he shall speak'.
אֱ֝מֶ֗תtrueN c · אֱמֶת (H571)Construct chain (genitival)אֱמֶת (H571) 'true'.
בִּלְבָבֽוֹin his heartprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · לֵבָב (H3824)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לֵבָב (H3824) 'in his heart'.
3

לֹֽא רָגַ֨ל עַל לְשֹׁנ֗וֹ לֹא עָשָׂ֣ה לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ רָעָ֑ה וְ֝חֶרְפָּ֗ה לֹא נָשָׂ֥א עַל קְרֹֽבוֹ

backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'spies'.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
לֹֽאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
רָגַ֨לspiesQal perf 3ms · רָגַל (H7270)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actרָגַל (H7270) 'spies'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
לְשֹׁנ֗וֹits languageN c · לָשׁוֹן (H3956)Construct chain (genitival)לָשׁוֹן (H3956) 'its language'.
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
עָשָׂ֣הhe didQal perf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
לְרֵעֵ֣הוּhis neighborprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · רֵעַ (H7453)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רֵעַ (H7453) 'his neighbor'.
רָעָ֑הevilN c · רַע (H7451)Construct chain (genitival)רַע (H7451) 'evil'.
וְ֝חֶרְפָּ֗הa reproachconj וְ + N com f sg abs · חֶרְפָּה (H2781)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חֶרְפָּה (H2781) 'a reproach'.
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
נָשָׂ֥אlifts upQal perf 3ms · נָשָׂא (H5375)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actנָשָׂא (H5375) 'lifts up'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
קְרֹֽבוֹnearAdj · קָרוֹב (H7138)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קָרוֹב (H7138) 'near'.
4

נִבְזֶ֤ה בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו נִמְאָ֗ס וְאֶת יִרְאֵ֣י יְהוָ֣ה יְכַבֵּ֑ד נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְ֝הָרַ֗ע וְלֹ֣א יָמִֽר

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear YHWH. sweareth to hurt, and changeth not.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'and he hardened'.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
נִבְזֶ֤הthus despisedN · בָּזָה (H959)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)בָּזָה (H959) 'thus despised'.
בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יוin his eyesprep + N com c du constr + sfx 3ms · עַיִן (H5869)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עַיִן (H5869) 'in his eyes'.
נִמְאָ֗סdespiseN · מָאַס (H3988)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מָאַס (H3988) 'despise'.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) 'and [obj]'.
יִרְאֵ֣יwho fearAdj · יָרֵא (H3373)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יָרֵא (H3373) 'who fear'.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
יְכַבֵּ֑דand he hardenedPiel impf 3ms · כָּבֵד (H3513)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalכָּבֵד (H3513) 'and he hardened'.
נִשְׁבַּ֥עhe sworeN · נִשְׁבַּע (H7650)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נִשְׁבַּע (H7650) 'he swore'.
לְ֝הָרַ֗עto harmprep + Hiphil inf constr · רָעַע (H7489)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementרָעַע (H7489) 'to harm'.
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + neg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'and not'.
יָמִֽרindeedHiphil impf 3ms · מוּר (H4171)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalמוּר (H4171) 'indeed'.
5

כַּסְפּ֤וֹ לֹא נָתַ֣ן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ֮ וְשֹׁ֥חַד עַל נָקִ֗י לֹ֥א לָ֫קָ֥ח עֹֽשֵׂה אֵ֑לֶּה לֹ֖א יִמּ֣וֹט לְעוֹלָֽם

putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these shall never be moved.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'is giving'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
כַּסְפּ֤וֹhis moneyN c · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Construct chain (genitival)כֶּסֶף (H3701) 'his money'.
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
נָתַ֣ןis givingQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actנָתַן (H5414) 'is giving'.
בְּנֶשֶׁךְ֮at interestprep + N com m sg abs · נֶשֶׁךְ (H5392)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נֶשֶׁךְ (H5392) 'at interest'.
וְשֹׁ֥חַדand a bribeconj וְ + N com m sg abs · שֹׁחַד (H7810)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שֹׁחַד (H7810) 'and a bribe'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
נָקִ֗יinnocentAdj · נָקִי (H5355)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נָקִי (H5355) 'innocent'.
לֹ֥אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
לָ֫קָ֥חhe tookQal perf 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actלָקַח (H3947) 'he took'.
עֹֽשֵׂהhe didQal ptc ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
אֵ֑לֶּהthesedem. pron xcp · אֵלֶּה (H428)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'.
לֹ֖אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
יִמּ֣וֹטshall slipN · מוֹט (H4131)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מוֹט (H4131) 'shall slip'.
לְעוֹלָֽםforeverprep + N com m sg abs · עוֹלָם (H5769)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עוֹלָם (H5769) 'forever'.