Psalms 26:1-6

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

1 ¹Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have ²walked in my integrity, And I have ³trusted in the LORD ⁴without wavering.

2 ⁵Examine me, O LORD, and try me; ⁶Test my mind and my heart.

3 For Your ⁷lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have ⁸walked in Your truth.

4 I do not ⁹sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with ¹⁰pretenders.

5 I ¹¹hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I shall ¹²wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about ¹³Your altar, O LORD,

Psalms 26:1-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 7:8
• 2. 2 Kings 20:3; Proverbs 20:7
• 3. Psalms 13:5; Psalms 28:7
• 4. Hebrews 10:23
• 5. Psalms 17:3; Psalms 139:23
• 6. Psalms 7:9
• 7. Psalms 48:9
• 8. 2 Kings 20:3; Psalms 86:11
• 9. Psalms 1:1
• 10. Psalms 28:3
• 11. Psalms 31:6; Psalms 139:21
• 12. Psalms 73:13
• 13. Psalms 43:3, 4

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Judge"
• [b]. Lit "I do not slide"
• [c]. Lit "kidneys," figurative for inner man
• [d]. Or "faithfulness"
• [e]. Or "worthless men;" lit "men of falsehood"
• [f]. Or "dissemblers, hypocrites"