Psalms — Chapter 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.

1Judge 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 evildoers; 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.

1Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in Jehovah without wavering.

2Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; Try my heart and my mind.

3For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes; And I have walked in thy truth.

4I have not sat with men of falsehood; Neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5I hate the assembly of evil-doers, And will not sit with the wicked.

6I will wash my hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O Jehovah;

7That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, And tell of all thy wondrous works.

8Jehovah, I love the habitation of thy house, And the place where thy glory dwelleth.

9Gather not my soul with sinners, Nor my life with men of blood;

10In whose hands is wickedness, 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 Jehovah. Psalm 27 [A Psalm] of David.

1By David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have integrity, and I trust in the Lord without wavering.

2Examine me, O Lord, and test me. Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives.

3For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, and your loyalty continually motivates me.

4I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.

5I hate the mob of evil men, and do not associate with the wicked.

6I maintain a pure lifestyle, so I can appear before your altar, O Lord,

7to give you thanks, and to tell about all your amazing deeds.

8O Lord, I love the temple where you live, the place where your splendor is revealed.

9Do not sweep me away with sinners, or execute me along with violent people,

10who are always ready to do wrong or offer a bribe.

11But I have integrity. Rescue me and have mercy on me!

12I am safe, and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

1Judge me, Yahweh, for I have walked in my integrity. I have trusted also in Yahweh without wavering.

2Examine me, Yahweh, and prove me. Try my heart and my mind.

3For your loving kindness is before my eyes. I have walked in your truth.

4I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites.

5I hate the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.

6I will wash my hands in innocence, so I will go about your altar, Yahweh;

7that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and tell of all your wondrous deeds.

8Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells.

9Don’t gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men;

10in whose hands is wickedness, their right hand is full of bribes.

11But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful to me.

12My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless Yahweh.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

A psalm in which David appeals to his own integrity while asking for vindication. He asks God to judge him, testing his heart and mind, since he has walked in faithfulness and trusted the LORD without wavering (vv. 1-3). He describes avoiding the company of the deceitful and the wicked, choosing instead to wash his hands in innocence and go around God's altar proclaiming thanksgiving (vv. 4-7). He expresses love for the place where God's glory dwells (v. 8), and asks not to be swept away with sinners and violent men whose hands are full of bribes (vv. 9-10). The psalm closes with a renewed statement of his own integrity and confidence that his foot stands on level ground, prompting praise in the assembly (vv. 11-12).

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses.
Classification: Protestation of Innocence / Individual Lament
Attributed Author: David — "A Psalm of David"
Key Themes: Integrity, self-examination before God, separation from evildoers, love for God's house, worship at the altar, standing on level ground
Historical Context: Like Psalms 7 and 17, David protests his innocence and invites divine examination. He has been accused or associated with wrongdoers and asks God to vindicate his integrity. The psalm emphasizes David's choices: who he does and does not associate with (vv.4-5), his love for the temple (v.8), and his determination to walk in integrity (v.11). It connects closely to Psalm 15's entrance requirements — David claims to meet those qualifications. The "washing hands" (v.6) likely refers to the ritual washing before approaching the altar, but metaphorically to moral preparation for worship.
Judge Me, O LORD (vv.1-3): Judge me, O LORD, for I have walked in mine integrity. The request is for a verdict rather than for mercy, which is a different kind of prayer from Psalm 25 immediately before it, and the singer invites the examination, examine me, O LORD, and prove me, try my reins and my heart. What he offers as evidence is not achievement but attention, for thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes.
I Have Not Sat with Vain Persons (vv.4-5): I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. The claim is made entirely in terms of company kept, which is the same measure Psalm 1 opens the psalter with, and it is stated as hatred rather than avoidance, I have hated the congregation of evil doers.
I Will Wash Mine Hands in Innocency (vv.6-8): I will wash mine hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar, O LORD. Priests washed before approaching the altar, so the gesture is being borrowed and given a moral sense. Then the reason for wanting to be there, and it is affection rather than duty, LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Gather Not My Soul with Sinners (vv.9-10): Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men. The petition is about classification: not to be spared but not to be counted with a particular group. And the group is identified by one practice, in whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes, which is the specific corruption the psalms return to most often in judicial contexts.
My Foot Standeth in an Even Place (vv.11-12): But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity, redeem me, and be merciful unto me. The two halves of that verse sit oddly together, since integrity is claimed and mercy is asked for in one breath, and the psalm does not reconcile them. And the last verse answers the psalm's own anxiety about where he will be placed, my foot standeth in an even place, in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Psalm 26 | Declared Innocent | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Psalm 26 - Standing in an Even Place
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of Psalms -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Inviting God's Examination (v.2) — David asks God to test his heart and mind rather than avoiding scrutiny. Are you willing to invite God to examine areas of your life you would rather keep hidden?
  • Choosing Your Company Carefully (v.4) — David defines part of his integrity by who he refuses to associate with. Does the company you keep pull you toward or away from faithfulness?
  • Preparing Yourself Before You Worship (v.6) — David describes washing his hands before approaching the altar, a picture of intentional preparation rather than casual entry. Do you prepare your heart before worship, or arrive distracted and unready?
  • Genuine Love for God's House (v.8) — David says he loves the place where God's glory dwells, not just attends out of duty. Does your participation in worship flow from love, or mere obligation?
  • Standing on Level Ground (v.12) — After examination and worship, David describes his feet as standing on stable ground. Does a life of integrity give you the same sense of solid footing?