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A Prayer for Vindication

Of David.[a]

26 Judge me, O Yahweh, because I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted Yahweh and not wavered.
Prove me, O Yahweh, and test me.
Try my innermost being[b] and my mind.[c]
Because your loyal love is before my eyes,
and I walk about in your faithfulness.
I do not sit with deceitful people,
nor will I go about with hypocrites.
I hate the crowd of evildoers,
and with the wicked I will not sit.
I will wash my hands in innocence,
and I will walk about your altar, O Yahweh,
to declare with a voice of thanksgiving,
and tell of all your wondrous deeds.
O Yahweh, I love the dwelling of your house,[d]
and the place where your glory abides.[e]
Do not destroy me[f] with the sinners,
nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10 in whose hands is an evil plan,
and whose right hand is full of bribes.[g]
11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity.
Redeem me and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground.
In assemblies I will bless Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 26:2 Literally “kidneys,” the locus of intense thoughts and emotions in biblical Hebrew
  3. Psalm 26:2 Literally “heart”
  4. Psalm 26:8 Or “temple”
  5. Psalm 26:8 Literally “the place of the dwelling place of your glory”
  6. Psalm 26:9 Or “gather my soul for judgment
  7. Psalm 26:10 Hebrew “bribe”

I Will Bless the Lord

Of David.

26 (A)Vindicate me, O Lord,
    for I have (B)walked in my integrity,
    and I have (C)trusted in the Lord without wavering.
(D)Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
    test my heart and (E)my mind.[a]
For your (F)steadfast love is before my eyes,
    and I (G)walk in your (H)faithfulness.

I do not (I)sit with men of (J)falsehood,
    nor do I consort with hypocrites.
I (K)hate the assembly of evildoers,
    and I will not sit with the wicked.

I (L)wash my hands in innocence
    and go around your altar, O Lord,
proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
    and telling all your (M)wondrous deeds.

O Lord, I (N)love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.
(O)Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
    and whose right hands are full of (P)bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
    redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on (Q)level ground;
    in (R)the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:2 Hebrew test my kidneys and my heart