Psalms 26

1 Vindicate me [judge, govern], O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]! For I have walked [lived, conducted myself] with integrity [moral purity, completeness]; I have trusted [had confidence, faith] in the LORD [Yehovah] without wavering [slipping, failing]. word study 2 Test [examine, prove] me, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and try [investigate, refine] me; examine [purify, refine] my heart [will, and intellect] and mind [the heart; the feelings, the will]. word study 3 For Your loving devotion [kindness, mercy, faithful love] is before my eyes [in my sight, always visible], and I have walked [followed, conducted my life] in Your truth [faithfulness, reliability, divine integrity]. word study 4 I do not [never, under no circumstances] sit [dwell, remain] with deceitful [false, dishonest] men [grown men, individuals], nor keep company [associate, gather] with hypocrites [dissemblers, pretenders]. word study 5 I hate [intensely dislike, feel hostility towards] the mob [assembly, group] of evildoers [those who do evil, wicked ones], and refuse [will not, decline] to sit [dwell, remain] with [together, in company] the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin]. word study 6 I wash [cleanse, purify] my hands in innocence [moral purity, blamelessness] that I may go about [surround, circle] Your altar [place of sacrifice, worship], O LORD [Yehovah, the Eternal One], word study 7 to raise [lift up, make heard] my voice [sound, cry] in thanksgiving [praise, worship, with the voice of confession] and declare [publish, tell of, recount] all [every, everything] Your wonderful [wondrous, amazing] works [deeds, mighty acts]. word study 8 O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], I love [have affection for, cherish] the house [habitation, dwelling place] where You dwell [reside, live], the place [location, sanctuary] where Your glory [honor, splendor, greatness] resides [dwells, abides]. word study 9 Do not [under no circumstances] take my soul [the essence of my being, living breath] away with sinners [those who have committed crimes, guilty ones], or my life [existence, being alive] with men of bloodshed [those who commit murder, bloody ones], word study 10 in whose hands [holding power and direction] are wicked schemes [evil plans, mischief], whose right hands [the right hand or side; the south] are full [completely filled, overflowing] of bribes [gifts to influence, corrupt payments]. word study 11 But I [as for me, personally] will walk [live, conduct my life] with integrity [in my innocence, complete, morally pure]; redeem [ransom, rescue] me and be merciful [show kindness, be gracious] to me. word study 12 My feet stand on level ground [in a plain, in a place of stability]; in the congregations [assemblies, gatherings of people] I will bless [praise, honor] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of all]. word study