Psalms 24:4

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart He who is innocent of violence and wrong-doing (Psalms 18:20; Psalms 18:24); nay, innocent even in thought and purpose as well as in deed. Cp. Psalms 73:1; Matthew 5:8.

Who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity i.e. who is true and faithful to Jehovah. -To lift up the soul" means to direct the mind towards (Psalms 25:1), to set the heart upon (Deuteronomy 24:15), to desire (Hosea 4:8). -Vanity" denotes what is transitory (Job 15:31), false and unreal (Psalms 12:2), or sinful (Isaiah 5:18), and may even designate false gods (Psalms 31:6). It includes all that is unlike or opposed to the nature of God. The traditional reading (Qrç) however is, my soul(so too Cod. Alex. of the LXX.). This reading must be rendered, Who hath not taken me in vain. God speaks; and the words are an echo of Exodus 20:7, with my soul(my being) substituted for my name. But this explanation is forced, and cannot be defended even by Amos 6:8, and Jeremiah 51:14, where God is said to swear -by His soul" = by Himself.

nor sworn deceitfully R.V., and hath not sworn deceitfully. The paraphrase of P.B.V., -nor sworn to deceive his neighbour," which follows the LXX and Vulg., gives the sense rightly. He has been true to his neighbour, as well as to God. Cp. Psalms 15:4.