义人的祈求

大卫的诗。

26 耶和华啊,求你为我申冤,
因为我行为纯全,
毫不动摇地信靠你。
耶和华啊,求你察验我,
试炼我,鉴察我的心思意念。
因为我铭记你的慈爱,
我行在你的真理中。
我没有与诡诈者为伍,
没有跟虚伪之人同流。
我憎恨奸恶之辈,
不愿与恶人交往。
耶和华啊,我洗手表明清白,
再走到你的坛前,
高唱感恩之歌,
述说你的一切奇妙作为。
耶和华啊,我爱你的殿,
你荣耀充满的地方。
别把我的灵魂和罪人同毁,
别把我的性命与嗜血之徒同灭。
10 他们满腹奸计,收受贿赂。
11 但我行为纯全,
求你施恩拯救我。
12 我站在平安之地,
我要在众人面前赞美耶和华。

The Prayer of an Innocent Believer

Of David.

26 Lord, ·defend [vindicate] me because I have ·lived an innocent life [L walked in innocence; Job 1:1].
    I have ·trusted [confidence in] the Lord and never ·doubted [wavered; faltered].
Lord, try me and test me;
    look closely into my ·heart and mind [L kidneys and heart; C the seat of emotions and mind in Hebrew thought].
·I see your love [L Your loyalty/covenant love is before my eyes],
    and I ·live by your truth [walk in your truth/faithfulness].
I do not ·spend time [L sit] with ·liars [or worthless people],
    nor do I ·make friends [L go] with ·those who hide their sin [hypocrites].
I hate the ·company [assembly] of evil people,
    and I won’t sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands ·to show I am innocent [L in innocence],
    and I ·come to [L go around] your altar, Lord.
I raise my voice in ·praise [or thanks]
    and tell of all the ·miracles [wonderful things] you have done.
Lord, I love the ·Temple [L house] where you live,
    where your glory [C manifest presence] ·is [dwells].
Do not ·kill me [take me away] with those sinners
    or take my life with ·those murderers [the bloodthirsty; L men of blood].
10 ·Evil is [Schemes are] in their hands,
    and ·they do wrong for money [L their right hand is full of bribes].
11 But I have ·lived an innocent life [L walked in innocence; v. 1],
    so ·save [redeem; ransom] me and have mercy on me.
12 ·I stand in a safe place [L My feet stand on level ground].
    Lord, I ·praise [bless] you in the great ·meeting [assembly].

Psalm 26

Of David.

Vindicate me,(A) Lord,
    for I have led a blameless life;(B)
I have trusted(C) in the Lord
    and have not faltered.(D)
Test me,(E) Lord, and try me,
    examine my heart and my mind;(F)
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love(G)
    and have lived(H) in reliance on your faithfulness.(I)

I do not sit(J) with the deceitful,
    nor do I associate with hypocrites.(K)
I abhor(L) the assembly of evildoers
    and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,(M)
    and go about your altar, Lord,
proclaiming aloud your praise(N)
    and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(O)

Lord, I love(P) the house where you live,
    the place where your glory dwells.(Q)
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
    my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(R)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(S)
    whose right hands are full of bribes.(T)
11 I lead a blameless life;
    deliver me(U) and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground;(V)
    in the great congregation(W) I will praise 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