Psalms 26 
Discovery Box |
By David.
26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have integrity, 2
and I trust in the Lord without wavering.
26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me!
Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives! 3
26:3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, 4
and your loyalty continually motivates me. 5
26:4 I do not associate 6 with deceitful men,
or consort 7 with those who are dishonest. 8
26:5 I hate the mob 9 of evil men,
and do not associate 10 with the wicked.
26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle, 11
so I can appear before your altar, 12 O Lord,
and to tell about all your amazing deeds. 14
26:8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live, 15
the place where your splendor is revealed. 16
26:9 Do not sweep me away 17 with sinners,
or execute me along with violent people, 18
26:10 who are always ready to do wrong 19
or offer a bribe. 20
26:11 But I have integrity! 21
Rescue me 22 and have mercy on me!
and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.
[26:1] 1 sn Psalm 26. The author invites the Lord to test his integrity, asserts his innocence and declares his loyalty to God.
[26:1] 2 tn Heb “for I in my integrity walk.”
[26:2] 3 tn Heb “evaluate my kidneys and my heart.” The kidneys and heart were viewed as the seat of one’s volition, conscience, and moral character.
[26:3] 4 tn Heb “for your faithfulness [is] before my eyes.”
[26:3] 5 tn Heb “and I walk about in your loyalty.”
sn 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.
[26:4] 7 tn 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.
[26:4] 8 tn Heb “[those who] conceal themselves.”
[26:5] 9 tn Heb “assembly, company.”
[26:5] 10 tn 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.
[26:6] 11 tn 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.
[26:6] 12 tn 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.
[26:7] 13 tn Heb “to cause to be heard the sound of thanksgiving.”
[26:7] 14 tn The two infinitival forms (both with prefixed preposition -לְ, lamed) give the purpose for his appearance at the altar.
[26:8] 15 tn Heb “the dwelling of your house.”
[26:8] 16 tn Heb “the place of the abode of your splendor.”
[26:9] 17 tn Heb “do not gather up my life with.”
[26:9] 18 tn Heb “or with men of bloodshed my life.” The verb is supplied; it is understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).
[26:10] 19 tn Heb “who [have] in their hands evil.”
[26:10] 20 tn Heb “and their right hand is full of a bribe.”
[26:11] 21 tn 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.
