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Psalms 26

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1Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

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

3For Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.

4I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites.

5I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,

7to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works.

8O LORD, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides.

9Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed,

10in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

11But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.

12My feet stand on level ground; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.

Psalms 26:1 Verse 1

The incongruities of nature illustrate also those of the moral world. The fool's unworthiness is also implied (Pr 17:7; 19:10).

Psalms 26:2 Verse 2

Though not obvious to us, the bird--literally, "sparrow"--and swallow--have an object in their motions, so penal evil falls on none without a reason.

Psalms 26:3 Verse 3

The rod is as much needed by fools and as well suited to them, as whips and bridles are for beasts.

Psalms 26:4-5 Verses 4-5

Answer not--that is, approvingly by like folly.

Psalms 26:5 Verse 5

Answer--by reproof.

Psalms 26:6 Verse 6

A fool fails by folly as surely as if he were maimed. drinketh damage--that is, gets it abundantly (Job 15:16; 34:7).

Psalms 26:7 Verse 7

legs ... equal--or, "take away the legs," or "the legs ... are weak." In any case the idea is that they are the occasion of an awkwardness, such as the fool shows in using a parable or proverb (see Introduction; Pr 17:7).

Psalms 26:8 Verse 8

A stone, bound in a sling, is useless; so honor, conferred on a fool, is thrown away.

Psalms 26:9 Verse 9

As vexatious and unmanageable as a thorn in a drunkard's hand is a parable to a fool. He will be as apt to misuse is as to use it rightly.

Psalms 26:10 Verse 10

Various versions of this are proposed (compare Margin). Better perhaps--"Much He injures (or literally, "wounds") all who reward," &c., that is, society is injured by encouraging evil men. transgressors--may be rendered "vagrants." The word "God" is improperly supplied.

Psalms 26:11 Verse 11

returneth ... folly--Though disgusting to others, the fool delights in his folly.

Psalms 26:12 Verse 12

The self-conceited are taught with more difficulty than the stupid.

Psalms 26:13 Verse 13

(Compare Pr 22:13).

Psalms 26:14 Verse 14

(Compare Pr 6:10; 24:33).

Psalms 26:15 Verse 15

(Compare Pr 19:24).

Psalms 26:16 Verse 16

The thoughtless being ignorant of their ignorance are conceited.

Psalms 26:17 Verse 17

meddleth--as in Pr 20:19; 24:21; as either holding a dog by the ears or letting him go involves danger, so success in another man's strife or failure involves a useless risk of reputation, does no good, and may do us harm.

Psalms 26:18-19 Verses 18-19

Such are reckless of results.

Psalms 26:20-21 Verses 20-21

The talebearers foster (Pr 16:28), and the contentious excite, strife.

Psalms 26:22 Verse 22

(Compare Pr 18:8).

Psalms 26:23 Verse 23

Warm professions can no more give value to insincerity than silver coating to rude earthenware.

Psalms 26:24 Verse 24

dissembleth--though an unusual sense of the word (compare Margin), is allowable, and better suits the context, which sets forth hypocrisy.

Psalms 26:25 Verse 25

Sentiment of Pr 26:24 carried out. seven abominations in his heart--that is, very many (compare Pr 24:16).

Psalms 26:26-27 Verses 26-27

Deceit will at last be exposed, and the wicked by their own arts often bring on retribution (compare Pr 12:13; Ps 7:16; 9:17, &c.).

Psalms 26:28 Verse 28

Men hate those they injure. A lying tongue--"lips" for the persons (compare Pr 4:24; Ps 12:3).

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Key Words and Topics

These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.

Related Topics

Bad Company Psalm 26:4, 5

I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. / I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked.

Bribery: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 26:9, 10

Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed, / in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

Company: Evil Psalm 26:4, 5, 9

I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. / I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked. / Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed,

Dance Clubs Psalm 26:4, 5

I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. / I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked.

Decision: David Psalm 26:6, 11

I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD, / But I will walk with integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.

Faith: Exemplified Psalm 26:1, 12

Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. / My feet stand on level ground; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.

Fellowship with the Wicked Psalm 26:4, 5

I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. / I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked.

God: Judge, and his Justice Psalm 26:1, 2

Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. / Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind.

God: Works of Psalm 26:7

to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works.

Homicide: Felonious, or Murder Psalm 26:9, 10

Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed, / in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.

Integrity: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 26:1–3

Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. / Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind. / For Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.

Obedience: Exemplified Psalm 26:3–6

For Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth. / I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. / I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked.

Psalms: Afflictions Psalm 26:1

Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

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Bible Dictionary

Related Dictionary Terms

Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.

House Till their sojourn in Egypt the Hebrews dwelt in tents.… Dwell Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men.… Bless (1.) God blesses his people when he bestows on them… Truth Used in various senses in Scripture. In Prov. 12:17, 19,… Heart According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not… Altar (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure… David Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen… Glory (Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence… Lord There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered. (1.)… Love This word seems to require explanation only in the case… Life Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also…