Psalm 15:3 He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor. "Nor doeth evil to his neighbour." I think we are still in the region of speech, and the Psalmist is still describing the influence of destructive conversation. To do evil in one's speech is to spoil one's neighbour; to break him to pieces. We have preserved the equivalent of the Psalmist's phrase down to our own time. We still speak of "picking a person to pieces." This is precisely the significance of the original word. There is a conversation which mercilessly engages in the exercise of spoliation; breaking up the reputation of another, and leaving it like the bones of some poor bird which has been picked to pieces by a destructive hawk. The speech of the companion of the Lord is quite otherwise. It ever seeks to construct and strengthen. "Let no speech proceed out of your mouth but what is edifying." (J. H. Jowett, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. |
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