Psalms 26:3-12

3 I see your mercy in front of me. I walk in the light of your truth.

4 I did not sit with liars, and I will not be found among hypocrites.

5 I have hated the mob of evildoers and will not sit with wicked people.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence. I will walk around your altar, O LORD,

7 so that I may loudly sing a hymn of thanksgiving and tell about all your miracles.

8 O LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not sweep away my soul along with hardened sinners or my life along with bloodthirsty people.

10 Evil schemes are in their hands. Their right hands are full of bribes.

11 But I walk with integrity. Rescue me, and have pity on me.

12 My feet stand on level ground. I will praise the LORD with the choirs in worship.

Psalms 26:3-12 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.