#ScriptureReflection - Psalm 101 (12.22.20)

Norm of Life for Rulers

¹ A psalm of David. *

I

I sing of mercy and justice;
    to you, Lord, I sing praise.
² I study the way of integrity;
    when will you come to me?
I act with integrity of heart
    within my household. *
³ I do not allow into my presence anything base.
    I hate wrongdoing;
    I will have no part of it.
⁴ May the devious heart keep far from me;
    the wicked I will not acknowledge.
⁵ Whoever slanders a neighbor in secret
    I will reduce to silence.
Haughty eyes and arrogant hearts
    I cannot endure.

II

⁶ I look to the faithful of the land *
    to sit at my side.
Whoever follows the way of integrity
    is the one to enter my service.
⁷ No one who practices deceit
    can remain within my house.
No one who speaks falsely
    can last in my presence.
⁸ *Morning after morning I clear all the wicked from the land,
    to rid the city of the Lord of all doers of evil.

Footnotes:

• Psalm 101 The king, grateful at being God’s chosen (Ps 101:1), promises to be a ruler after God’s own heart (Ps 101:2–3), allowing into the royal service only the God-fearing (Ps 101:3–8).
• 101:2 Within my household: the king promises to make his own household, i.e., the royal court, a model for Israel, banning all officials who abuse their power.
• 101:6 I look to the faithful of the land: the king seeks companions only among those faithful to God. 
• 101:8 Morning after morning: the morning is the normal time for the administration of justice (2 Sm 15:2; Jer 21:12) and for the arrival of divine aid (Ps 59:17; 143:8; Is 33:2). I clear all the wicked from the land: the king, as God’s servant, is responsible for seeing that divine justice is carried out.
  

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)