Psalms 26

A Psalm of David. lathis Psalm David asserts that uprightness and integrity, to which he pretended in the twenty-first verse of the foregoing Psalm: and appeals to God as the judge of his sincerity, who was privy to his most secret intentions. But it seems to relate to former times, when he was persecuted by Saul, and looked upon as a public enemy, (1 Sam. xxiv. 9.) Thus Theodoret understands it: and thinks he was now among the Philistines, or in. some other strange country, into which he was some time forced by that persecution.

Psalms 26:1

JUDGE me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall iwt slide. I am accused of grievous crimes by those that persecute me; but am not afraid to appeal to thee, O Lord, as the judge of that matter: nothing doubting but thou wilt acquit me, and punish my false accusers and persecutors. For, thou knowest, I kept. a good conscience when I was at court; (1 Sam. xix. 4.) and since I have been banished thence, have taken no wicked course to deliver myself; (1 Sam. xxiv. 11, 12.) but entirely depended upon thee alone for safety: in which resolution nothing shall shake me.

Psalms 26:2

Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. Thou seest into the secret thoughts of my mind, and inclinations of my will: if I have not sufficiently approved myself, to have not so much as designed any such evil as I am charged withal, go on, good Lord, to make a farther search; and if thou wilt still expose me to the fiery trial of sorer afflictions, I hope it will only still discover more of my integrity,.

Psalms 26:3

For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes; and I have walked in thy truth. For I trust to nothing but thy loving-kindness, which is the pattern I have set before my eyes to imitate: I ever designed good, not hurt, to. them; and have ever kept my faith,* and punctually performed my vol. in. promises to them; after the example of thy truth, by which I have squared all my actions.

Psalms 26:4

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I never loved the company of false and treacherous persons; nor have had any thing to do with those, who, under specious shows, cover ungodly designs. -.

Psalms 26:5

I have hated the congregation of evil-doers; and will not sit with the wicked. No, I perfectly hated their meetings, where they laid their heads together to contrive some evil thing or other: I never did, nor ever will, sit in consultation with those unquiet and turbulent spirits, who are restlessly hatching mischief.

Psalms 26:6

J will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar ) O Lord. I never satisfied myself with the mere ceremony of washing my hands, before I went to offer thee any sacrifice: but sincerely endeavoured, Lord, to keep myself free from all impurity (as by that token I testified), and so presented myself, with due reverence, at thy altar:

Psalms 26:7

- That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving) and tell of all thy wondrous works. Not merely to pray to thee, when I was in any distress; but to praise thee also, and to give thee thanks; proclaiming to all thy people those stupendous things which thy admirable goodness hath done for me.

Psalms 26:8

Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. And thou knowest, O Lord, with what affection I attended upon this employment-; and how glad I -was to go into thy tabernacle (which thou hast been pleased to make the place where thy glory dwells among us), to offer those devout sacrifices unto thee..

Psalms 26:9

Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men. And. therefore, I hope, thou wilt not let me suffer with those, from whose society I have always separated myself; O letme not perish, as if I was a murderer;

Psalms 26:10

In ivhose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. Or a companion of those that live by rapine and spoil of others, (1 Sam. xxv. 15, 1G.) or obtain their ends by bribery and corruption of justice. k •

Psalms 26:11

But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. For I am none of that number; buthave always preserved, and will still continue, an upright. endeavour to keep myself pure in all things: therefore, I beseech thee to deliver me, now that they seek to destroy me as an evil-doer; and shew that thou judgest otherways of me.

Psalms 26:12

My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregation will I bless the Lord. Why should I doubt of it, when, notwithstanding all the assaults of mine enemies, I stand firm and unshaken? Surely the time will come when I shall publicly praise the Lord, my protector and deliverer, in the assemblies of his people; from whence this unjust persecution hath driven me, (1 Sam. xxvi. 19.)