Psalms 26:9

9 Do not gather with sinners my soul, And with men of blood my life,

Psalms 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 26:9

Gather not my soul with sinners
Profligate and abandoned ones, such as are notoriously profane, and who live and die impenitent ones; otherwise all men are sinners: the sense is, either that he desires that he might not, by any means, be brought into the company of such persons, be joined unto them, and have a conversation with them, which would be uncomfortable, dishonourable, and dangerous; or that God would not destroy him with them; and that he might not die the death of the wicked, nor be gathered with them at death: death is often expressed by a man's being gathered to his people, and to his fathers; see ( 2 Kings 22:20 ) ; the body is gathered to the grave, the soul returns to God that gave it, and has its place assigned by him; the souls of the righteous are gathered into heaven, Christ's garner; the souls of the wicked into hell; the psalmist deprecates being gathered with them;

nor my life with bloody men;
that thirst after blood, lie in wait for it, shed it, and are drunk with it, as the antichristian party; these God abhors and detests; nor shall they live out half their days, and their end is miserable.

Psalms 26:9 In-Context

7 To sound with a voice of confession, And to recount all Thy wonders.
8 Jehovah, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, And the place of the tabernacle of Thine honour.
9 Do not gather with sinners my soul, And with men of blood my life,
10 In whose hand [is] a wicked device, And their right hand [is] full of bribes.
11 And I, in mine integrity I walk, Redeem me, and favour me.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.