Psalms 26:9

9 Do not destroy me with the sinners; spare me from the fate of murderers -

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 I sing a hymn of thanksgiving and tell of all your wonderful deeds.
8 I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not destroy me with the sinners; spare me from the fate of murderers -
10 those who do evil all the time and are always ready to take bribes.
11 As for me, I do what is right; be merciful to me and save me!
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.