Psalms 26:2-12

2 Prove me, O Yahweh, and test me. Try my {innermost being} and my {mind}.
3 Because your loyal love [is] before my eyes, and I walk about in your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with deceitful people, nor will I go about with hypocrites.
5 I hate [the] crowd of evildoers, and with [the] wicked I will not sit.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence, and I will walk about your altar, O Yahweh,
7 to declare with a voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Yahweh, I love [the] dwelling of your house, and {the place where your glory abides}.
9 Do not destroy me with [the] sinners, nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10 in whose hands [is] an evil plan, and whose right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground. In assemblies I will bless Yahweh.

Psalms 26:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

Psalm of David. The occasion of this psalm seems to be the quarrel between Saul and David, the former listening to calumnies and reproaches cast upon the latter, and persecuting him in a violent manner. The argument of it is the same, in a great measure, with the seventh psalm, and is an appeal made to God, the Judge of the whole earth, by the psalmist, for his innocence and integrity; Theodoret thinks it was written by David when he fled from Saul.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Literally "kidneys," the locus of intense thoughts and emotions in biblical Hebrew
  • [b]. Literally "heart"
  • [c]. Or "temple"
  • [d]. Literally "the place of the dwelling place of your glory"
  • [e]. Or "gather my soul [for judgment]"
  • [f]. Hebrew "bribe"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.