What is Psalterium Catholicum?

Psalterium Catholicum offers praying the Psalms, practicing Lectio Divina, and exploring faithful Catholic resources for daily devotion.

Psalm 14 The Psalter Psalm 16

PSALMVS XV

Domine, quis habitabit

A Liturgy for the Sanctuary · Wisdom · Book I

Pray this Psalm · Lectio Divina

1A psalm of David. Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or who shall rest in thy holy hill?

2He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice:

3He that speaketh truth in his heart, who hath not used deceit in his tongue: Nor hath done evil to his neighbour: nor taken up a reproach against his neighbours.

4In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his neighbour, and deceiveth not;

5he that hath not put out his money to usury, nor taken bribes against the innocent: He that doth these things shall not be moved for ever.

Douay-Rheims · Challoner Revision

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Wisdom of the Church

Psalm 15 is traditionally attributed to King David, as indicated by the superscription 'A Psalm of David.' It functions as a 'liturgy of entrance,' designed for pilgrims or worshipers seeking access to the Tabernacle or the Temple. Historically, it reflects the moral requirements for those approaching the presence of the Lord on His holy mountain. As a Wisdom psalm, it serves as a gateway piece within the Psalter, echoing the themes of the Torah-focused first book. Scholars often place its composition in the era of the early Monarchy or the post-exilic period, as it captures the priestly concern for holiness and the ethical demands of the Covenant. In Second Temple worship, the psalm likely served as a formal interrogation at the gates of the sanctuary, where the Levites or priests would recite the qualifications for dwelling in the Divine presence, ensuring that the congregation approached the altar with clean hands and a pure heart. This dynamic created a solemn boundary between the profane world and the sacred space of the Holy of Holies.