The Meaning of Psalms 15:5 Explained

Psalms 15:5

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

YLT: His silver he hath not given in usury, And a bribe against the innocent Hath not taken; Whoso is doing these is not moved to the age!

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

ASV: He that putteth not out his money to interest, Nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 15:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In conclusion, David observed that such a person will experience stability in his life, as well as enjoying intimate fellowship with God.
The fact that David listed a total of10 moral qualities in this psalm may indicate that he wanted to suggest a comparison with the Ten Commandments. Though the contents of these lists are not the same, they both identify traits that mark a person who is walking in the will of God. The rabbis identified613commands in the Mosaic Law. Isaiah mentioned six that are very important ( Isaiah 33:15-16), Micah listed three ( Micah 6:8), and Habakkuk boiled them down to one, namely, faith ( Habakkuk 2:4).
A believer needs to make sure he is walking in the will of God consistently to enjoy fellowship with God and stability in his life. [1]

Context Summary

Psalms 15:1-5 - The Citizen Of Zion And His Inheritance
The first of these psalms was probably composed to celebrate the bringing of the Ark to Mount Zion, Psalms 16:8-11. It describes the character of those who have fellowship with God and dwell in His house all the days of their earthly lot. To the challenge of the soloist, Psalms 15:1, the choir makes response, Psalms 15:2-5, first positively, then negatively. We must act as non-conductors to evil; must mind what company we keep; and must cultivate a spirit of love and self-sacrifice which will never take advantage of others, Psalms 15:5. Here is the secret of permanence and peace.
Michtam means "golden," and may be truly applied to the next psalm, as also to Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11; Psalms 59:1-17; Psalms 60:1-12. Others explain the word as a "secret." It is the song of the golden secret. The key is furnished in Acts 2:25. The Apostle Paul expressly emphasizes the divine authorship in Acts 13:35-38. Our Lord may have repeated 1 Samuel 6:20 when He was descending the dark valley, and so may we. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 15

1  David describes a citizen of Zion

What do the individual words in Psalms 15:5 mean?

His money not He [who] does put out at usury and a bribe against the innocent Nor does he take He who does these [things] never shall be moved -
כַּסְפּ֤וֹ ׀ לֹא־ נָתַ֣ן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ֮ וְשֹׁ֥חַד עַל־ נָקִ֗י לֹ֥א לָ֫קָ֥ח עֹֽשֵׂה־ אֵ֑לֶּה לֹ֖א יִמּ֣וֹט לְעוֹלָֽם

כַּסְפּ֤וֹ ׀  His  money 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
נָתַ֣ן  He  [who]  does  put  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בְּנֶשֶׁךְ֮  at  usury 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֶשֶׁךְ  
Sense: interest, usury.
וְשֹׁ֥חַד  and  a  bribe 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁחַד  
Sense: present, bribe.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
נָקִ֗י  the  innocent 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָקִי 
Sense: clean, free from, exempt, clear, innocent.
לֹ֥א  Nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
לָ֫קָ֥ח  does  he  take 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
עֹֽשֵׂה־  He  who  does 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֵ֑לֶּה  these  [things] 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
לֹ֖א  never 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִמּ֣וֹט  shall  be  moved 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
לְעוֹלָֽם    - 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.