Psalms 26:5-12

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,

26:7 to give you thanks, ⁵ 

and to tell about all your amazing deeds. ⁶ 

26:8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live, ⁷ 

the place where your splendor is revealed. ⁸ 

26:9 Do not sweep me away ⁹  with sinners,

or execute me along with violent people, ¹⁰ 

26:10 who are always ready to do wrong ¹¹ 

or offer a bribe. ¹² 

26:11 But I have integrity! ¹³ 

Rescue me ¹⁴  and have mercy on me!

26:12 I am safe, ¹⁵ 

and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

[26:5]  ¹ tn Heb “assembly, company.”

[26:5]  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.

[26:6]  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.

[26:6]  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.

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

[26:7]  ⁶ tn The two infinitival forms (both with prefixed preposition -לְ, lamed) give the purpose for his appearance at the altar.

[26:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “the dwelling of your house.”

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

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

[26:9]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “or with men of bloodshed my life.” The verb is supplied; it is understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).

[26:10]  ¹¹ tn Heb “who [have] in their hands evil.”

[26:10]  ¹² tn Heb “and their right hand is full of a bribe.”

[26:11]  ¹³ 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.

[26:11]  ¹⁴ tn Or “redeem me.”

[26:12]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “my foot stands in a level place.”