Psalm 26:2–12

2 Test me, Lord, and try me,

examine my heart and my mind;

3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love

and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with the deceitful,

nor do I associate with hypocrites.

5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers

and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence,

and go about your altar, Lord,

7 proclaiming aloud your praise

and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

8 Lord, I love the house where you live,

the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,

my life with those who are bloodthirsty,

10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,

whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 I lead a blameless life;

deliver me and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground;

in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

test my heart and my mind.

3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,

nor do I consort with hypocrites.

5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,

and I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence

and go around your altar, O Lord,

7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house

and the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,

nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

10 in whose hands are evil devices,

and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on level ground;

in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;

Try my reins and my heart.

3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes:

And I have walked in thy truth.

4 I have not sat with vain persons,

Neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers;

And will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash mine hands in innocency:

So will I compass thine altar, O Lord:

7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving,

And tell of all thy wondrous works.

8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house,

And the place where thine honour dwelleth.

9 Gather not my soul with sinners,

Nor my life with bloody men:

10 In whose hands is mischief,

And their right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity:

Redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

12 My foot standeth in an even place:

In the congregations will I bless the Lord.

2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.

Test my motives and my heart.

3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love,

and I have lived according to your truth.

4 I do not spend time with liars

or go along with hypocrites.

5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,

and I refuse to join in with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence.

I come to your altar, O Lord,

7 singing a song of thanksgiving

and telling of all your wonders.

8 I love your sanctuary, Lord,

the place where your glorious presence dwells.

9 Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners.

Don’t condemn me along with murderers.

10 Their hands are dirty with evil schemes,

and they constantly take bribes.

11 But I am not like that; I live with integrity.

So redeem me and show me mercy.

12 Now I stand on solid ground,

and I will publicly praise the Lord.

2 Lord, try me and test me;

look closely into my heart and mind.

3 I see your love,

and I live by your truth.

4 I do not spend time with liars,

nor do I make friends with those who hide their sin.

5 I hate the company of evil people,

and I won’t sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands to show I am innocent,

and I come to your altar, Lord.

7 I raise my voice in praise

and tell of all the miracles you have done.

8 Lord, I love the Temple where you live,

where your glory is.

9 Do not kill me with those sinners

or take my life with those murderers.

10 Evil is in their hands,

and they do wrong for money.

11 But I have lived an innocent life,

so save me and have mercy on me.

12 I stand in a safe place.

Lord, I praise you in the great meeting.

2 Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me;

Try my heart and my mind.

3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes;

And I have walked in thy truth.

4 I have not sat with men of falsehood;

Neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5 I hate the assembly of evil-doers,

And will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocency:

So will I compass thine altar, O Jehovah;

7 That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard,

And tell of all thy wondrous works.

8 Jehovah, I love the habitation of thy house,

And the place where thy glory dwelleth.

9 Gather not my soul with sinners,

Nor my life with men of blood;

10 In whose hands is wickedness,

And their right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity:

Redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

12 My foot standeth in an even place:

In the congregations will I bless Jehovah.

2 Prove me, Jehovah, and test me; try my reins and my heart: 3 For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither have I gone in with dissemblers; 5 I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and I have not sat with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocency, and will encompass thine altar, O Jehovah, 7 That I may cause the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and declare all thy marvellous works. 8 Jehovah, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwelleth. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of blood; 10 In whose hands are evil devices, and their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity. Redeem me, and be gracious unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place; in the congregations will I bless Jehovah.

2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me. 

Look closely into my heart and mind. 

3 I see your mercy in front of me. 

I walk in the light of your truth. 

4 I did not sit with liars, 

and I will not be found among hypocrites. 

5 I have hated the mob of evildoers 

and will not sit with wicked people. 

6 I will wash my hands in innocence. 

I will walk around your altar, O Lord, 

7 so that I may loudly sing a hymn of thanksgiving 

and tell about all your miracles. 

8 O Lord, I love the house where you live, 

the place where your glory dwells. 

9 Do not sweep away my soul along with hardened sinners 

or my life along with bloodthirsty people. 

10 Evil schemes are in their hands. 

Their right hands are full of bribes. 

11 But I walk with integrity. 

Rescue me, and have pity on me. 

12 My feet stand on level ground. 

I will praise the Lord with the choirs in worship. 

2 Test me, Lord, and try me;

examine my heart and mind.

3 For Your faithful love is before my eyes,

and I live by Your truth.

4 I do not sit with the worthless

or associate with hypocrites.

5 I hate a crowd of evildoers,

and I do not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence

and go around Your altar, Lord,

7 raising my voice in thanksgiving

and telling about Your wonderful works.

8 Lord, I love the house where You dwell,

the place where Your glory resides.

9 Do not destroy me along with sinners,

or my life along with men of bloodshed

10 in whose hands are evil schemes

and whose right hands are filled with bribes.

11 But I live with integrity;

redeem me and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on level ground;

I will praise the Lord in the assemblies.

2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

test my heart and mind.

3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in faithfulness to you.

4 I do not sit with the worthless,

nor do I consort with hypocrites;

5 I hate the company of evildoers

and will not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence

and go around your altar, O Lord,

7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving

and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8 O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell

and the place where your glory abides.

9 Do not sweep me away with sinners

nor my life with the bloodthirsty,

10 those in whose hands are evil devices

and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I walk in my integrity;

redeem me and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on level ground;

in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.

2 Prove me, O Yahweh, and test me.

Try my innermost being and my mind.

3 Because your loyal love is before my eyes,

and I walk about in your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with deceitful people,

nor will I go about with hypocrites.

5 I hate the crowd of evildoers,

and with the wicked I will not sit.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence,

and I will walk about your altar, O Yahweh,

7 to declare with a voice of thanksgiving,

and tell of all your wondrous deeds.

8 O Yahweh, I love the dwelling of your house,

and the place where your glory abides.

9 Do not destroy me with the sinners,

nor my life with men of bloodshed,

10 in whose hands is an evil plan,

and whose right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity.

Redeem me and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on level ground.

In assemblies I will bless Yahweh.

2 Lord, test me. Try me out.

Look deep down into my heart and mind.

3 Your love is always with me.

I have always lived by your truth.

4 I don’t spend time with people who tell lies.

I don’t keep company with pretenders.

5 I hate to be with a group of sinful people.

I refuse to spend time with those who are evil.

6 I wash my hands to show that I’m not guilty.

Lord, I come near your altar.

7 I shout my praise to you.

I tell about all the wonderful things you have done.

8 Lord, I love the house where you live.

I love the place where your glory is.

9 Don’t destroy me together with sinners.

Don’t take my life away along with murderers.

10 Their hands are always planning to do evil.

Their right hands are full of money that bought them off.

11 But I live without blame.

Set me free and show me your favor.

12 My feet stand on level ground.

In the whole community I will praise the Lord.

2 Examine me, O Lord, and try me;

Test my mind and my heart.

3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth.

4 I do not sit with deceitful men,

Nor will I go with pretenders.

5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,

And I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I shall wash my hands in innocence,

And I will go about Your altar, O Lord,

7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving

And declare all Your wonders.

8 O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house

And the place where Your glory dwells.

9 Do not take my soul away along with sinners,

Nor my life with men of bloodshed,

10 In whose hands is a wicked scheme,

And whose right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

Redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on a level place;

In the congregations I shall bless the Lord.