Psalm 26:4

4 I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites.

Psalm 26:4 in Other Translations

4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

4 I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.

4 I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites.

4 I don't hang out with tricksters, I don't pal around with thugs;

4 I have not sat with men of falsehood; Neither will I go in with dissemblers.

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

4 I do not sit with the worthless or associate with hypocrites.

4 I don't spend time with people who tell lies. I don't keep company with pretenders.

Psalm 26:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 26:4

I have not sat with vain persons
Or "men of vanity" ^F20; who are full of it; who are addicted to the vanities of the world; who pursue the riches, honours, pleasures, and profits of it; which is no other than walking in a vain show: whose thoughts, words, and actions are vain; who are vainly puffed up in their fleshly mind, and walk in the vanity of it; who take the name of God in vain, and whose common discourse is foolish, frothy, light, and empty; and who are men of a vain conversation, and are rash, imprudent, and deceitful: men of bad principles may very well go by this name, who are vain and unruly talkers, and whose doctrines are doctrines of vanity, and no other than vain babbling; and also men guilty of idolatrous practices, who observe lying vanities, and worship them, and lift up their souls unto them; with such vain men, in any of these senses, the psalmist would have nothing to do; he would not keep company with them, nor have any communion, consultation, and conversation with them; it may be, he may have some respect to the men that were about Saul, to whom such a character agreed; or he may say this, and what follows, to remove a calumny cast upon him and his friends; as if they that were with him were such men as here described, and in ( Psalms 26:5 ) ;

neither will I go in with dissemblers:
or "hidden" or "unknown" persons {u}, who lie in private lurking places, to murder the innocent, or secretly take away the good names and characters of men, and it is not known who they are; or who commit sin secretly; go into secret places to do their works in the dark, and hide themselves to do evil; as the Targum, Jarchi, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, interpret it; who love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; or who cover themselves with lying and flattering words, that it is not known what their real intentions be; they speak one thing, and mean another; are an assembly of treacherous men: such are all deceitful workers, who lie in wait to deceive, and walk in craftiness; and hypocrites, who have the form of religion, but are strangers to the power of it; and who are to be turned away from, and avoided; the houses, assemblies, cabals, and company of such, are to be shunned; see ( Genesis 49:6 ) ( Jeremiah 9:2 ) ; or such as are "signed", or "marked"; that is, infamous persons ^F23.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F20 (awv ytm Me) "cum hominibus vanitatis", Gejerus, Michaelis.
F21 (Mymlen Me) "cum occultis", Vatablus, Michaelis; "absconditis", Gejerus; so Ainsworth.
F23 Vide Schultens de def. Hod. ling. Heb. s. 188.

Psalm 26:4 In-Context

2 Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites.

5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, LORD,

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 1:1
• 2. Psalms 28:3; Matthew 6:2