Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 101

I will sing of mercy and judgment - That is, in the psalm which he was about to compose, he would make these the burden of his song; he would, in fact, by stating his views as to the regulation of his own conduct, commend these virtues—mercy and justice—to mankind, and celebrate their value. He who himself adopts the principles of mercy, kindness, truth, and justice, as his own guide, commends these virtues to mankind in the best way possible. No language can do it effectively, unless one practices these virtues oneself.

Unto you, O Lord, will I sing - As commending and approving these things; as having put it into my heart to practice them; as displaying them in your own higher administration: for a father of a family, or a magistrate, is only the representative of God.

I will behave myself wisely — In the choice of principles to guide me; in my conduct in my family; in my official relations. This expresses a “desire” to act wisely, and a “purpose” to do it.

In a perfect way — In accordance with the perfect rules of right. I will make these my guide. I will “aim” to be perfect; I will have before me a perfect standard.

O when will you come to me? — Perhaps this would be better rendered, “When you come to me;” that is, when you then visit me and my dwelling, you shall find that these are the principles which regulate and govern me in my house.

The idea is that God would come to visit his dwelling and inspect his conduct; and that whenever this should occur—however often it might be, or however unexpectedly he might come—he should “always” find these principles governing him in his family.

A man should so live that “whenever” God comes into his dwelling, or when anyone comes, or however narrow and searching may be the inspection, these principles shall be found to regulate his conduct.

I will walk within my house — Before my family; in the principles which shall govern me there.

With a perfect heart — Always aiming to do exactly what is right: in my general conduct; in the rules by which I live; in my treatment of all under my charge and in my employ. The great principles of “right,” in everything — in the smallest matters — shall guide and govern me.

I will set no wicked thing before my eyes - That is, I will propose no wicked thing to be done; I will have no such object in view; I will employ no one to do that which is wrong. The margin, as the Hebrew, is, “thing of Belial.” See the notes at (Psalms 41:8). Here, it means that which is worthless, bad, wicked. He would have no wicked aim; he would not look upon a wicked thing for a moment, or with the least favor.

I hate the work of those who turn aside - All their doings, motives, plans. The word rendered “turn aside” means to turn out of the way, out of the right path: wanderers, transgressors, those who leave the path of truth and honesty.

It shall not cleave to me - I will have nothing to do with it. It shall not be allowed to attach itself to me. A wicked plan or purpose is thus represented as having a tendency to fasten itself on a man, or to “stick to him”—as pitch, or wax, as a “burn” does.

A froward heart shall depart from me - The word translated here as 'froward' means perverse, false, deceitful, or depraved. See the notes at Psalms 18:26. The 'idea' here is that of someone who is inclined to evil; who has some wrong passion or inclination to indulge; who has an obstinate and perverse will; who does not listen to reason or the voice of wise persuasion; who will do wrong, despite all the means that might be used to persuade him to do right. The language may either refer to the author of the psalm himself, as regulating his own conduct, or it may refer to those in his employ.

In the first sense, it would mean that he would not himself be perverse and 'froward'; in the second sense, that he would not have such persons in his employ. The context seems to require that we understand it in the second sense, as referring to the type of persons the psalmist would have around him.

I will not know a wicked person - I will not approve of such a person; I will not recognize such a person among those admitted into my house, or accept him as my friend; or, I will not have such people in my employ. Probably the language embraces both these ideas - as it should in the case of all who are at the head of a family:

• I will not approve of or recognize as my friends, who are to be admitted to my fireside and family, and who are to be familiar with me and my children, those who are profligate, wicked, and unprincipled, whatever might be their rank, their wealth, their accomplishments, their charm, or their power of conversation.
• I will have in my employ no one who is not honest, temperate, virtuous, and pure.

The welfare of a family depends more on the first of these principles than the second; no family can be well-ordered where both are not found.

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour - literally, “One who speaks concerning his neighbor in secret.” If a man has any good to say of another, he will be likely to say it openly; if he has any evil to say, it will be likely to be said in secret. Hence, to speak in secret of anyone comes to mean the same thing as to slander him.

Him will I cut off - That is, I will cut him off from me; I will not employ him. He would not have one in his house, or in his service, who did injustice to the character of others; who stabbed their reputation in the dark. This was alike indicative of the personal character of the author of the psalm, and of his purpose as the head of a family. It is hardly necessary to say that no one should employ another who is in the habit of slandering his neighbor.

Him that hath an high look - That is proud - as a proud man commonly carries his head high.

And a proud heart - The Hebrew word here rendered “proud” commonly means wide, broad, large, as of the sea, or of an extended country (Job 11:9); (Exodus 3:8). It is applied also to the law of God as comprehensive, and without limit (Psalms 119:96). Then it comes to mean swelled up - made large - inflated (Proverbs 28:25); and hence, proud and arrogant.

Will not I suffer - I will not tolerate such a person near me. No one can have peace in his house who has such a class of servants or domestics; no one should countenance such persons. Humility is the very foundation of all virtue.