Psalm 26:5

5 I hate [the] crowd of evildoers, and with [the] wicked I will not sit.

Psalm 26:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 26:5

I have hated the congregation of evildoers
That do harm to the persons, characters, or properties of men; and who meet together in bodies, to consult and form schemes to do mischief, and have their assemblies to encourage each other in it; these, their works and actions, the psalmist hated, though not their persons; and showed his displicency at them, and dislike and disapprobation of them, by absenting from them; see ( Jeremiah 15:17 ) ;

and will not sit with the wicked;
ungodly and unrighteous men, sons of Belial; for with such what fellowship and concord can there be? ( 2 Corinthians 6:14 2 Corinthians 6:15 ) ; the word ^F24 signifies restless and uneasy persons, who cannot rest unless they do mischief; are like the troubled sea, continually casting up mire and dirt, ( Isaiah 57:20 Isaiah 57:21 ) ; now, by all this the psalmist means not that good men should have no manner of conversation with the men of the world: for then, as the apostle says, we must needs go out of the world, ( 1 Corinthians 5:9 1 Corinthians 5:10 ) . Conversation in civil things, in matters of trade and business, is lawful; though all unnecessary conversation in things of civil life is to be shunned; no more should be had than what natural relation and the business of life require; but all conversation in things criminal is to be avoided; company is not to be kept with them, so as to join them in anything sinful; this is to harden them in their evil ways, and it brings into danger and into disgrace: a man is known and is judged of by the company that he keeps; and evil communications corrupt good manners.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 (evr) "significat inquietum esse, ceu patet ex", Isa. xlviii. 22. Gejerus

Psalm 26:5 In-Context

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.