John Trapp on Psalms 15:3

Verſ. 3. Hee that backbiteth not with his tongue] that trotteth not up and down for the purpoſe, as the word ſignifieth;Ragal, when Regal a foo[illegible: 1 letter] Ruchil. that walketh not about as a Pedlar with his pack, as the word is Levit. 19.16. this is a bloody ſin, ibid. confer, Ezek. 22.9. Many wayes a man may backbite with his tongue, that unruly member.

Imponens, augens, manifeſtans, in mala v[illegible: 1 letter]rtens, Qui negat, aut minuit, tacuit, laudatque remiſſe.

One obſerveth from this Text, that there is alſo a ſlander of the heart, that never commeth into the tongue, ſc. hard conceits, and evill ſurmiſes. Some ſay, that the word here ſignifieth to ſpeak truth, but with a miſchievons mind, to hurt another; as Doeg dealt by David, and is therefore accurſed, Pſal. 52. and called a lyer for his labour, Pſal. 120. The ſmutting of another mans good-name in any kind behind his back, is backbiting; it is an irreparable wrong; take heed of it. The eye, and the good-name can bear no jeſts, as the Proverb hath it.

Nor dath evill to his Neighbour] Neither by diſparaging, nor diſprofiting him. There is an elegancy in the originall, that cannot be Engliſhed.

Nor taketh up a reproach againſt his Neighbour] Or receiveth, Or indureth. The tale-bearer carrieth the Devill in his tongue; the tale-hearer in his ear. Plautus wiſheth that the one may be hanged by his tongue, and the other by his ear; the receiver wee ſay is as bad as the [illegible: 1 letter]heef. Not only he that maketh a lye, but he that loveth it is excluded Heaven, Rev. 22.15. It is evill to ſow reports and ſlanders; but worſe to harrow them in. The Heathen could ſay, Hee that eaſily beleeveth ſlanders, aut improbis, aut puerilibus eſt moribus, is either a knave, or a fool.