Psalms · Chapter 26 of 150

Psalm 26

1A Psalm of David. Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. 2Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 3For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 4I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

6I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord: 7That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. 8Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

11But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.

King James Version (1769) · public domain

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Psalm 26 commentary

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706), public domain.

David, in this psalm, appeals to God touching his integrity. --David here, by the Spirit of prophecy, speaks of himself as a type of Christ, of whom what he here says of his spotless innocence was fully and eminently true, and of Christ only, and to Him we may apply it. We are complete in him. The man that walks in his integrity, yet trusting wholly in the grace of God, is in a state of acceptance, according to the covenant of which Jesus was the Mediator, in virtue of his spotless obedience even unto death. This man desires to have his inmost soul searched and proved by the Lord. He is aware of the deceitfulness of his own heart; he desires to detect and mortify every sin; and he longs to be satisfied of his being a true believer, and to practise the holy commands of God. Great care to avoid bad company, is both a good evidence of our integrity, and a good means to keep us in it. Hypocrites and dissemblers may be found attending on God's ordinances; but it is a good sign of sincerity, if we attend upon them, as the psalmist here tells us he did, in the exercise of repentance and conscientious obedience. He feels his ground firm under him; and, as he delights in blessing the Lord with his congregations on earth, he trusts that shortly he shall join the great assembly in heaven, in singing praises to God and to the Lamb for evermore.

Key verses in Psalm 26

  • Psalms 26:4

    I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

  • Psalms 26:1

    A Psalm of David. Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

  • Psalms 26:2

    Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

  • Psalms 26:5

    I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

  • Psalms 26:6

    I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord: