KJV ORIGINAL
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Someone who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not given their devotion to worthless things, and has not made false promises.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes the kind of person who can stand before God - someone who acts righteously, has good motives, doesn't chase after meaningless things, and keeps their word honestly.
📚 Historical Context
This psalm was likely used during religious ceremonies when people would ascend to the temple in Jerusalem. The 'clean hands' refers to righteous actions, while 'pure heart' speaks to inner motives and intentions. In ancient Hebrew culture, lifting up one's soul to vanity meant devoting oneself to idols or worthless pursuits.
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