A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption

A Psalm of David.

26 Vindicate (A)me, O Lord,
For I have (B)walked in my integrity.
(C)I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
(D)Examine me, O Lord, and [a]prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And (E)I have walked in Your truth.
I have not (F)sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
I have (G)hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.

I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
Lord, (H)I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place [b]where Your glory dwells.

(I)Do[c] not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of (J)bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
12 (K)My foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:2 test me
  2. Psalm 26:8 Lit. of the tabernacle of Your glory
  3. Psalm 26:9 Do not take away

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

26 [a](A)Vindicate me, Lord, for I have (B)walked in my integrity,
And I have (C)trusted in the Lord [b](D)without wavering.
(E)Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test;
(F)Refine my [c]mind and my heart.
For Your (G)[d]goodness is before my eyes,
And I have (H)walked in Your truth.
I do not (I)sit with [e]deceitful people,
Nor will I go with [f](J)pretenders.
I (K)hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
I will (L)wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go around (M)Your altar, Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of (N)thanksgiving
And declare all Your [g]wonders.

Lord, I (O)love the dwelling of Your house,
And the place [h]where Your (P)glory remains.
(Q)Do not [i]take my soul away along with sinners,
Nor my life with (R)men of bloodshed,
10 In whose hands is a (S)wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of (T)bribes.
11 But as for me, I will (U)walk in my integrity;
(V)Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 (W)My foot stands on (X)level ground;
In the (Y)congregations I will bless the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:1 Lit Judge
  2. Psalm 26:1 Lit I do not slide
  3. Psalm 26:2 Lit kidneys, figurative for inner man
  4. Psalm 26:3 Or faithfulness
  5. Psalm 26:4 Or worthless men; lit men of falsehood
  6. Psalm 26:4 Or dissemblers, hypocrites
  7. Psalm 26:7 Or miracles
  8. Psalm 26:8 Lit of the tabernacle of Your glory
  9. Psalm 26:9 Lit gather

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

26 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity;
I have [relied on and] trusted [confidently] in the Lord without wavering and I shall not slip.

Examine me, O Lord, and try me;
Test my heart and my mind.

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked [faithfully] in Your truth.

I do not sit with deceitful or unethical or worthless men,
Nor seek companionship with pretenders (self-righteous hypocrites).

I hate the company of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.

I will wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O Lord,

That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving
And declare all Your wonders.


O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house
And the place where Your glory dwells.

Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
Nor [sweep away] my life with men of bloodshed,
10 
In whose hands is a wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.
11 
But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful and gracious to me.
12 
My foot stands on a level place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord.

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

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

For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

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

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

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

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.