Psalms 26

David beseecheth God to right him against his Enemies, declaring before him his uprightness, innocence and godliness: and assuring himself of being heard, doth promise thankfulness to God.

1. A Psalm of David. Do me right LORD, [Against mine Enemies and Persecutors; shew it by the deed, that thou judgest my cause to be righteous] for I walk in my uprightness; and I trust in the LORD, I shall not waver.

2. Try me LORD, [Compare Psa.17.on v.3.] and prove me. [See Gen.22.on v.1.] Touch my Reins and my Heart.

3. For thy kindness is before mine eyes: and I walk in thy truth [See Psa.25.on v.5.and 10.]

4. I sit not by vain people, [Heb. Men (hominess) people of vanity, or falsehood] and I converse not [So the Hebrew word is likewise taken, Jos.23.7.] with covered men, [i.e. double-dealing, dissembling hypocrites, which go about close, evil, and mischievous practises.]

5. I hate the congregation of the evils doors, and I sit not by the wicked.

6. I wash my hands in innocency: and I go round about thine altar, O LORD. [Implying that he did so perform his outward service of God, that he led a holy life there withal, whereas the hypocrite practised the contrary. Of the washing of hands in token of innocence. See Deut. 21.v.6. and Matth.27.v.24. Some do understand it of the ordinary washing of those, that came to the Altar (and going into Tabernacle, were in a manner to compass or go round about Altar) Exod.40.32. Both meanings regard the cleansing from sins, innocence and blamableness. Compare Isa.1.15,16. 1 Tim.2.8.]

7. To make the voice of praise to be heard, [i.e. to sing aloud of it, that it may well be heard. So Psa.66.8. and 106.2. Compare 1 Chron.15.16.] and to rehearse all thy wonders.

8. LORD, I do love the dwelling of thine house; and the place of the Tabernacle of thine honour, [i.e. wherein thou thy self dwellest, that art a God of honour and glory.]

9. Do not snatch away my soul with the sinners; [Heb. Gather not, etc. i.e. here, gathering ravage not: or rifle not, as one doth first gather together that which one doth ravage or rifle away afterwards. The meaning is; do not destroy me with the wicked, with whom and their practises I have no share nor fellowship as followeth Thus the Hebrew word, which signifieth to gather is used for removing, ravaging away, Gen.30.23. Isa.4.1. Jerem.8.13. and 16.5. and thence for dying, perishing, losing (ones) life. See Jud.18.on v.23. 1 Sam.15.6. Isa.57.1. Ezek.34.29. Compare likewise, Psa.28.3. and Gen.25.on v.8. Sometimes it is likewise used, for kindly receiving into house, or under roof, or taking in, receiving a cover. See Numb.12.14. Jos.20.4. Jud.19.15. Psa.27.10. Jer.47.on.v.6. and Compare Matth.23.37.] nor my life with the men of bloud: [Heb. Blouds in the plural, i.e. bloody men, or blood thirsty murdering men, as Psa.5.7. See there.]

10. In whose hands there is vile carriage, [i.e. who are about and practising villanies, or mischievous plots and enterprises. Compare Job 11:14. together with the annot.] and whose right hand is full of bribes.

11. But I do walk in mine uprightness; redeem me, (then) and have mercy on me.

12. My foot standeth upon an even path; [Heb. In, or upon the right, plain, or even (ground) (in plano) thus the Hebrew word (signifying evenness, straightness, or directness, rectitude, opposed to unevenness, crookedness, etc. Isa.40.4.) is taken for plain, even, level ground, Deut.3.10. Jerem.21.13.] I shall praise the LORD in the Congregations, [implying, that being assured of a happy issue, as if he saw it before his eyes, he was ready, not only in private but also in public, before the Congregation, to give God thanks, that he had kept and preserved him in so many dangers and temptations of soul and body, and in regard of the precipices thereof, brought and set him at last, as it were into or upon an even, secure and safe ground, and way to walk and live in.]