“Those slandering their neighbor in secret, 

I will silence — 

Those with an arrogant eye and a greedy heart.

I will not tolerate.”

(Psalm 101:5)

The structure of this verse is a little irregular. Ordinarily, we would expect to see a couplet where the second half of the couplet either compliments or reinforces the first half. At first glance, when translated in English, this verse seems to carry that same structure. The problem is that when one looks at the ancient Hebrew, something a little different is seen. In this case, Hebrew verses contain a series of accent marks. Some tell you how to pronounce words, others tell you how words group together (for public reading). 

The “atnack” is an accent mark that indicates where the logical center of the verse happens to be. In other words, this accent tells you where the idea break is between the parallel ideas. In this case, the atnack falls after the word “heart.” That breaks up the parallel nature of the verse. One must be clear that the system of accents found in the Old Testament is not part of the inspired text, yet they are one of the most ancient tools in place to help preserve the integrity of the Hebrew text. So, the question remains, then, why this irregular placement of the accent? To some degree, we are entering into speculation as we cannot go back and ask David specifically why he structured the verse as he did. At the same time, in poetry, whenever changes from a set form are made, they are typically used to set off and emphasize an idea…namely the final idea in the verse: “I will not tolerate.”

If we presume that David is emphasizing the last clause, then we can interpret the first clause as a kind of heightening of his anger at those who practice injustice (remember, David is pondering God’s justice and mercy). What injustice does he most condemn here? He condemns those who slander their neighbor in secret. Why does he hate such injustice? It is because such injustice stems from a person whose eye is arrogant and whose heart is greedy. If we read the text in that way, with the third line being the formal cause of the first line, then we can see a certain degree of unity in all three initial lines that leads up to David’s final declaration that he will not tolerate this.

As King, David functioned not only as the primary leader of the armies, but he was also the supreme judge of the people, applying the law of God to questions that were set before him. The ancient Hebrews referred to this psalm as “the Mirror for Magistrates” and Luther similarly referred to this psalm as “David’s Mirror for Magistrates.” How does a judge look into the mirror to examine his heart? The judge must do so by looking at his judgments. Indeed, every Christian can and should do the same as we examine the actions we have taken. 

A few other notes of interest. I have translated the second line: “I will silence.” Many of our English Bibles will render this as “I will destroy.” While destroy (or bring to ruin) is the most common rendering of the word צָמֵת (tsamat), the term communicates the notion that the object of destruction will no longer be able to commit the actions that caused them to be under wrath. In the context of the passage, then, to silence the tongues of such people is the notion being communicated, hence my choice of terms.

Finally, we arrive at the last line, which is the thrust of David’s statement. Literally it renders: “I am not able.” In Hebrew, the idea of ability conveys not just the notion of ability to participate in an action, but it also communicates the inability to comprehend (or justify) said action. David is essentially stating that there is no excuse for secret slandering and he will not hear anyone’s vain attempt to do so. In a world that is marked by excuses for everything under the sun, King David’s words are a welcome reminder that there is no place in the life of a believer for such things. The Greater David, our Lord Jesus Christ, makes it clear: slandering defiles the person and makes one impure (Mark 7:20-23). Indeed, such is and has always been the Law of God (Leviticus 19:16).