Psalms26

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¹ Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

² Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

³ for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

⁴ I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites.

⁵ I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.

⁶ I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord,

⁷ proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

⁸ Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.

⁹ Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty,

¹⁰ in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

¹¹ I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me.

¹² My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

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Psalms 26

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 26. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: David, in this psalm, appeals to God touching his integrity. (1-12).

vv1-12

David here, by the Spirit of prophecy, speaks of himself as a type of Christ, of whom what he here says of his spotless innocence was fully and eminently true, and of Christ only, and to Him we may apply it. We are complete in him. The man that walks in his integrity, yet trusting wholly in the grace of God, is in a state of acceptance, according to the covenant of which Jesus was the Mediator, in virtue of his spotless obedience even unto death. This man desires to have his inmost soul searched and proved by the Lord. He is aware of the deceitfulness of his own heart; he desires to detect and mortify every sin; and he longs to be satisfied of his being a true believer, and to practise the holy commands of God. Great care to avoid bad company, is both a good evidence of our integrity, and a good means to keep us in it. Hypocrites and dissemblers may be found attending on God's ordinances; but it is a good sign of sincerity, if we attend upon them, as the psalmist here tells us he did, in the exercise of repentance and conscientious obedience. He feels his ground firm under him; and, as he delights in blessing the Lord with his congregations on earth, he trusts that shortly he shall join the great assembly in heaven, in singing praises to God and to the Lamb for evermore.

Key Words

DavidH1732Hebrew

דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse

VindicateH8199Hebrew

שָׁפַט: to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)

forH3588Hebrew

כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

IH589Hebrew

אֲנִי: I

walkedH1980Hebrew

הָלַךְ: to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

integrityH8537Hebrew

תֹּם: completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually (morally) innocence

trustedH982Hebrew

בָּטַח: figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure

withoutH3808Hebrew

לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles