Psalms 48:1

Psalm 48 ¹ 

A song, a psalm by the Korahites.

48:1 The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise

in the city of our God, ²  his holy hill.

Psalms 26:1-12

Psalm 26 ³ 

By David.

26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have integrity, ⁴ 

and I trust in the Lord without wavering.

26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me!

Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives! ⁵ 

26:3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, ⁶ 

and your loyalty continually motivates me. ⁷ 

26:4 I do not associate ⁸  with deceitful men,

or consort ⁹  with those who are dishonest. ¹⁰ 

26:5 I hate the mob ¹¹  of evil men,

and do not associate ¹²  with the wicked.

26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle, ¹³ 

so I can appear before your altar, ¹⁴  O Lord,

26:7 to give you thanks, ¹⁵ 

and to tell about all your amazing deeds. ¹⁶ 

26:8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live, ¹⁷ 

the place where your splendor is revealed. ¹⁸ 

26:9 Do not sweep me away ¹⁹  with sinners,

or execute me along with violent people, ²⁰ 

26:10 who are always ready to do wrong ²¹ 

or offer a bribe. ²² 

26:11 But I have integrity! ²³ 

Rescue me ²⁴  and have mercy on me!

26:12 I am safe, ²⁵ 

and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

[48:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 48. This so-called “Song of Zion” celebrates the greatness and glory of the Lord’s dwelling place, Jerusalem. His presence in the city elevates it above all others and assures its security.

[48:1]  ² sn The city of our God is Jerusalem, which is also referred to here as “his holy hill,” that is, Zion (see v. 2, as well as Isa 66:20; Joel 2:1; 3:17; Zech 8:3; Pss 2:6; 15:1; 43:3; 87:1; Dan 9:16).

[26:1]  ³ sn Psalm 26. The author invites the Lord to test his integrity, asserts his innocence and declares his loyalty to God.

[26:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “for I in my integrity walk.”

[26:2]  ⁵ 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]  ⁷ tn Heb “for your faithfulness [is] before my eyes.”

[26:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “and I walk about in your loyalty.”

[26:4]  ⁹ tn Heb “sit.”

[26:4]  ¹⁰ 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]  ¹¹ tn Heb “[those who] conceal themselves.”

[26:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “assembly, company.”

[26:5]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ 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]  ¹⁴ 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]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “to cause to be heard the sound of thanksgiving.”

[26:7]  ¹⁶ tn The two infinitival forms (both with prefixed preposition -לְ, lamed) give the purpose for his appearance at the altar.

[26:8]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “the dwelling of your house.”

[26:8]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “the place of the abode of your splendor.”

[26:9]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “do not gather up my life with.”

[26:9]  ²⁰ tn Heb “or with men of bloodshed my life.” The verb is supplied; it is understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).

[26:10]  ²¹ tn Heb “who [have] in their hands evil.”

[26:10]  ²² tn Heb “and their right hand is full of a bribe.”

[26:11]  ²³ 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]  ²⁴ tn Or “redeem me.”

[26:12]  ²⁵ tn Heb “my foot stands in a level place.”