Psalms 26:3-6

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

and your loyalty continually motivates me. ² 

26:4 I do not associate ³  with deceitful men,

or consort ⁴  with those who are dishonest. ⁵ 

26:5 I hate the mob ⁶  of evil men,

and do not associate ⁷  with the wicked.

26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle, ⁸ 

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

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

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

[26:4]  ³ tn Heb “sit.”

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

[26:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “assembly, company.”

[26:5]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ 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.