26:5 I hate the mob 1 of evil men,
and do not associate 2 with the wicked.
26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle, 3
so I can appear before your altar, 4 O Lord,
1 tn Heb “assembly, company.”
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.