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Psalm 26

A psalm of David.

Declare me innocent, O Lord,
    for I have acted with integrity;
    I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.
    Test my motives and my heart.
For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
    and I have lived according to your truth.
I do not spend time with liars
    or go along with hypocrites.
I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,
    and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
I wash my hands to declare my innocence.
    I come to your altar, O Lord,
singing a song of thanksgiving
    and telling of all your wonders.
I love your sanctuary, Lord,
    the place where your glorious presence dwells.

Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners.
    Don’t condemn me along with murderers.
10 Their hands are dirty with evil schemes,
    and they constantly take bribes.
11 But I am not like that; I live with integrity.
    So redeem me and show me mercy.
12 Now I stand on solid ground,
    and I will publicly praise the Lord.

Psalm 26

Prayer for Vindication

Davidic.

Vindicate me, Lord,
because I have lived with integrity
and have trusted in the Lord without wavering.(A)
Test me, Lord, and try me;
examine my heart and mind.(B)
For Your faithful love is before my eyes,
and I live by Your truth.(C)

I do not sit with the worthless
or associate with hypocrites.
I hate a crowd of evildoers,
and I do not sit with the wicked.(D)
I wash my hands[a] in innocence(E)
and go around Your altar, Lord,(F)
raising my voice in thanksgiving(G)
and telling about Your wonderful works.(H)

Lord, I love the house where You dwell,
the place where Your glory resides.(I)
Do not destroy me along with sinners,
or my life along with men of bloodshed(J)
10 in whose hands are evil schemes
and whose right hands are filled with bribes.(K)

11 But I live with integrity;
redeem me and be gracious to me.(L)
12 My foot stands on level ground;(M)
I will praise the Lord in the assemblies.(N)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:6 A ritual or ceremonial washing to express innocence

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

26 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity;
I have [relied on and] trusted [confidently] in the Lord without wavering and I shall not slip.

Examine me, O Lord, and try me;
Test my heart and my mind.

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked [faithfully] in Your truth.

I do not sit with deceitful or unethical or worthless men,
Nor seek companionship with pretenders (self-righteous hypocrites).

I hate the company of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.

I will wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O Lord,

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving
And declare all Your wonders.


O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house
And the place where Your glory dwells.

Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
Nor [sweep away] my life with men of bloodshed,
10 
In whose hands is a wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.
11 
But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful and gracious to me.
12 
My foot stands on a level place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord.

A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption

A Psalm of David.

26 Vindicate (A)me, O Lord,
For I have (B)walked in my integrity.
(C)I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
(D)Examine me, O Lord, and [a]prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And (E)I have walked in Your truth.
I have not (F)sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
I have (G)hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.

I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
Lord, (H)I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place [b]where Your glory dwells.

(I)Do[c] not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of (J)bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
12 (K)My foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:2 test me
  2. Psalm 26:8 Lit. of the tabernacle of Your glory
  3. Psalm 26:9 Do not take away

26 Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

Examine me, O Lord, and test me; try my reins and my heart.

For Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in Thy truth.

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I consort with dissemblers.

I have hated the congregation of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.

I will wash mine hands in innocence; so will I compass Thine altar, O Lord,

that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works.

Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth.

Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men,

10 in whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity; redeem me and be merciful unto me.

12 My foot standeth on a level place; in the congregations will I bless the Lord.