Psalm 5:4
“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.”
KJV
Read in Psalm 5Meaning
The psalm now turns from the petitioner’s practice to the character of the One addressed. God’s refusal to delight in wickedness explains the moral seriousness of the following verses. “Evil shall not dwell with thee” is relational language about incompatibility with divine holiness, not a claim that sinners must achieve perfection before seeking mercy. Verse 7 will explicitly locate the worshiper’s entrance in the abundance of God’s mercy.
God’s holiness and opposition to destructive evil
The psalm grounds its plea in God’s moral character, distinguishing divine judgment from human retaliation.
Read carefully
The psalm rejects fellowship with wickedness, yet the speaker approaches through abundant mercy rather than a claim of sinless perfection.
Reflection
Bring behavior as well as feelings into prayer; name what is wrong, seek mercy, make restitution where possible, and refuse to call evil harmless.