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Epiphany Season · Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany · Year A

Psalm 15

Who May Dwell on Your Holy Hill

February 1, 2026

Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, Charles-Théodore Frère
Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, Charles-Théodore Frère, by 1880The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Travellers have pitched their tents and couched their camels on the slope of the Mount of Olives, and across the valley the walled city of Jerusalem lies white in the sun.O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart.Charles-Théodore FrèreA Parisian painter who travelled through Egypt and the Holy Land and spent his career painting its caravans and cities.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, which makes its public-domain pictures free for anyone to use.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:1-12Mt 5:1-12
Epistle1 Cor. 1:18-311 Cor 1:18-31
Old TestamentMic. 6:1-8Mi 6:1-8
PsalterPs. 15Ps 15

Overview & Insights

"O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?" (Psalm 15:1)

Psalm 15 opens with a question about who is fit to worship in God's presence, then answers it with a short portrait of that person: one who walks with integrity, speaks the truth, does no harm to a neighbor, and will not lend money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent. It pairs with Micah 6:1-8 on this Sunday, since both texts define genuine faith as a life of practical justice and honesty rather than ritual alone.

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Take it further: Psalm 15

Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 15Commentary on Ps 15 Working Preacher

Reads the psalm as entrance liturgy, arguing that personal holiness here means a commitment to the wholeness of the community.

Psalm 15 CommentaryPs 15 Commentary CEP (Center for Excellence in Preaching)

Frames the psalm as a catechism question and answer, teaching a settled truth rather than posing a rebel's challenge.

Psalm 15 Commentary: The Character of the One God ReceivesPs 15 Commentary: The Character of the One God Receives Enduring Word

Walks verse by verse through the marks of the person welcomed into God's presence, with a plain evangelical application.

Psalms 15 - Barnes' Notes on the Whole BiblePs 15 - Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible StudyLight

Treats verse 1 as one of the most important questions in Scripture, who may truly dwell with God, and unpacks the answer clause by clause.

Background & Word Study

Psalm 15:1 InterlinearPs 15:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Gives the Hebrew text word by word for the opening question, useful for checking exactly what 'abide' and 'dwell' mean side by side.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 15Ps 15 Catena

Verse-by-verse comment from the Fathers on Psalm 15.

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