Psalms 26:3-12

Context

26:3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness,¹

and your loyalty continually motivates me.²

26:4 I do not associate³ with deceitful men,

or consort⁴ with those who are dishonest.⁵

26:5 I hate the mob⁶ of evil men,

and do not associate⁷ with the wicked.

26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle,⁸

so I can appear before your altar,⁹ O Lord,

26:7 to give you thanks,¹⁰

and to tell about all your amazing deeds.¹¹

26:8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live,¹²

the place where your splendor is revealed.¹³

26:9 Do not sweep me away¹⁴ with sinners,

or execute me along with violent people,¹⁵

26:10 who are always ready to do wrong¹⁶

or offer a bribe.¹⁷

26:11 But I have integrity!¹⁸

Rescue me¹⁹ and have mercy on me!

26:12 I am safe,²⁰

and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

[26:3] ¹tn Heb “for your faithfulness [is] before my eyes.”

[26:3] ²tn Heb “and I walk about in your loyalty.”

[26:4] ³tn Heb “sit.”

[26:4] ⁴tn 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] ⁵tn Heb “[those who] conceal themselves.”

[26:5] ⁶tn Heb “assembly, company.”

[26:5] ⁷tn 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] ⁸tn 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] ⁹tn 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] ¹⁰tn Heb “to cause to be heard the sound of thanksgiving.”

[26:7] ¹¹tn The two infinitival forms (both with prefixed preposition -לְ, lamed) give the purpose for his appearance at the altar.

[26:8] ¹²tn Heb “the dwelling of your house.”

[26:8] ¹³tn Heb “the place of the abode of your splendor.”

[26:9] ¹⁴tn Heb “do not gather up my life with.”

[26:9] ¹⁵tn Heb “or with men of bloodshed my life.” The verb is supplied; it is understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).

[26:10] ¹⁶tn Heb “who [have] in their hands evil.”

[26:10] ¹⁷tn Heb “and their right hand is full of a bribe.”

[26:11] ¹⁸tn 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.

[26:11] ¹⁹tn Or “redeem me.”

[26:12] ²⁰tn Heb “my foot stands in a level place.”