Psalm 26

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Psalm 26³⁵

By David.

^26:1Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have integrity,¹

and I trust in the Lord without wavering.

^26:2Examine me, O Lord, and test me!

Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives!²

^26:3For I am ever aware of your faithfulness,³

and your loyalty continually motivates me.⁴

^26:4I do not associate⁵ with deceitful men,

or consort⁶ with those who are dishonest.⁷

^26:5I hate the mob⁸ of evil men,

and do not associate⁹ with the wicked.

^26:6I maintain a pure lifestyle,¹⁰

so I can appear before your altar,¹¹ O Lord,

^26:7to give you thanks,¹²

and to tell about all your amazing deeds.¹³

^26:8O Lord, I love the temple where you live,¹⁴

the place where your splendor is revealed.¹⁵

^26:9Do not sweep me away¹⁶ with sinners,

or execute me along with violent people,¹⁷

^26:10who are always ready to do wrong¹⁸

or offer a bribe.¹⁹

^26:11But I have integrity!²⁰

Rescue me²¹ and have mercy on me!

^26:12I am safe,²²

and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

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Footnotes

35 Psalm 26. The author invites the Lord to test his integrity, asserts his innocence and declares his loyalty to God.
1 Heb “for I in my integrity walk.”
2 Heb “evaluate my kidneys and my heart.” The kidneys and heart were viewed as the seat of one’s volition, conscience, and moral character.
3 Heb “for your faithfulness [is] before my eyes.”
4 Heb “and I walk about in your loyalty.” The psalmist’s awareness of the Lord’s faithfulness and … loyalty toward him motivates him to remain loyal to the Lord and to maintain his moral purity.
5 Heb “sit.”
6 Heb “go.” The psalmist uses the imperfect form of the verb to emphasize that he does not make a practice of associating with such people.
7 Heb “[those who] conceal themselves.”
8 Heb “assembly, company.”
9 Heb “sit.” The psalmist uses the imperfect form of the verb to emphasize that he does not make a practice of associating with such people.
10 Heb “I wash my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The imperfect verbal emphasizes that this is his habit.
11 Heb “so I can go around your altar” (probably in ritual procession). Following the imperfect of the preceding line, the cohortative with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose or result.
12 Heb “to cause to be heard the sound of thanksgiving.”
13 The two infinitival forms (both with prefixed preposition -לְ, lamed) give the purpose for his appearance at the altar.
14 Heb “the dwelling of your house.”
15 Heb “the place of the abode of your splendor.”
16 Heb “do not gather up my life with.”
17 Heb “or with men of bloodshed my life.” The verb is supplied; it is understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).
18 Heb “who [have] in their hands evil.”
19 Heb “and their right hand is full of a bribe.”
20 Heb “and I in my integrity walk.” The psalmist uses the imperfect verbal form to emphasize this is his practice. The construction at the beginning of the verse (conjunction + pronoun) highlights the contrast between the psalmist and the sinners mentioned in vv. 9–10.
21 Or “redeem me.”
22 Heb “my foot stands in a level place.”