I Have Walked in My Integrity
Psalm 26 summary: what it means
Psalm 26 is a request to be judged. The speaker asks God to examine and test their heart and mind, confident of having walked in integrity and trusted without wavering. The first half shows what that integrity looks like: keeping God's loving kindness in view, walking in his truth, and refusing to sit with deceitful men, hypocrites and evildoers. In verse 6 the speaker washes their hands in innocence and goes to the altar to give thanks.
In the second half the speaker declares love for the house where God's glory dwells and asks not to be swept away with bloodthirsty men whose hands hold bribes. The claim of integrity returns in verse 11, now paired with a request to be redeemed and shown mercy. The psalm ends with the speaker standing on level ground, blessing the LORD in the congregations.
Psalm 26: I Have Walked in My Integrity
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-26
Psalm 26 commentary: explained verse by verse
Judge me, LORD, for I have walked in my integrity.I have trusted also in the LORD without wavering.
Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
The psalm opens by inviting judgment rather than asking to avoid it. The speaker's case has two parts: they have walked in integrity, and they have trusted the LORD without wavering.
Also read Psalm 25:21, Psalm 21:7, 1 Corinthians 4:3-6, Psalm 94:18
Examine me, LORD, and prove me.Try my heart and my mind.
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Three verbs press the request further: examine, prove, try. The speaker opens both heart and mind to inspection, which assumes nothing hidden will count against them.
Also read Psalm 7:9, Job 31:4-6, Psalm 66:10, Jeremiah 20:12
For your loving kindness is before my eyes.I have walked in your truth.
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
This verse gives the source of the speaker's conduct. God's loving kindness is kept before their eyes, and walking in his truth follows from that. The integrity of verse 1 is presented as a response, not an achievement.
Also read 2 Kings 20:3, 2 John 1:4, 3 John 1:11, Psalm 25:5
I have not sat with deceitful men,neither will I go in with hypocrites.
I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
The speaker describes integrity partly by the company they refuse. They have not sat with deceitful men and will not go in with hypocrites.
Also read Proverbs 13:20, Jeremiah 15:17, Proverbs 9:6, Proverbs 12:11
I hate the assembly of evildoers,and will not sit with the wicked.
I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
The refusal grows stronger. The speaker hates the assembly of evildoers and will not sit with the wicked. The word sit returns from verse 4, so the psalm is describing whose company the speaker keeps.
Also read Psalm 1:1, Matthew 9:11-12, Psalm 139:21-22, Psalm 31:6
I will wash my hands in innocence,so I will go about your altar, LORD,
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
Washing the hands in innocence is a sign of being clean of wrongdoing. The speaker does it in order to go about God's altar, so the clean hands lead to worship.
Also read Psalm 43:4, Titus 3:5, 1 Timothy 2:8, Psalm 24:4
that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heardand tell of all your wondrous deeds.
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
The purpose of coming to the altar is spelled out. The speaker wants to give thanks aloud and tell of all God's wondrous deeds.
Also read Psalm 100:4-5, 2 Chronicles 20:26-29, Psalm 105:2, Psalm 9:14
LORD, I love the habitation of your house,the place where your glory dwells.
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
This is the warmest line in the psalm. The speaker loves the house of the LORD, the place where his glory dwells. Love for God's house balances the hatred of the evildoers' assembly in verse 5.
Also read Psalm 42:4, Psalm 27:4-6, John 2:14-17, 2 Samuel 15:25
Don’t gather my soul with sinners,nor my life with bloodthirsty men
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
The speaker asks not to share the fate of sinners and bloodthirsty men. Gather suggests being swept up together with them.
Also read Revelation 22:14-15, Psalm 28:1-3, Psalm 55:23, Matthew 25:32
in whose hands is wickedness;their right hand is full of bribes.
In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
The bloodthirsty men of verse 9 are described further. Wickedness is in their hands and their right hand is full of bribes, which ties their violence to corruption.
Also read Psalm 52:2, Isaiah 33:15, Proverbs 1:16, Psalm 55:9-11
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity.Redeem me, and be merciful to me.
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
The integrity of verse 1 is claimed again, but now with a request attached: redeem me, and be merciful to me. The speaker does not treat a clean record as a substitute for mercy.
Also read Titus 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 Samuel 12:2-5, Psalm 26:1
My foot stands in an even place.In the congregations I will bless the LORD.
My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.
The psalm ends with the speaker's foot on an even place, level and secure ground. The private request for judgment finishes in public praise in the congregations.
Also read Psalm 22:22-25, Psalm 111:1, Psalm 40:2, Psalm 27:11
A prayer from Psalm 26
LORD, examine me and prove me. Try my heart and my mind. Your loving kindness is before my eyes, and I want to walk in your truth. Keep me from sitting with deceit and from following the ways of the wicked. I want to come near your altar with clean hands and make the voice of thanksgiving heard, telling of all your wondrous deeds. I love the house where your glory dwells. Do not gather my life with those whose hands are full of wrong. I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful to me. Set my foot on even ground, and I will bless you among your people. Amen.
Psalm 26 Bible study questions
- In verse 2, which three verbs does the writer use when he invites God to look at him, and what does he ask God to test?
- In verses 4 and 5, what kinds of people does the writer say he will not sit with, and how are they described?
- The writer asks God to examine him rather than defending himself to others; what would it mean for you to invite that kind of examination?
- Verse 11 pairs a statement of integrity with a request for mercy; how do you hold those two things together?
- How does the invitation to be tested in Psalm 26:2 compare with the prayer of Psalm 139:23?
Questions about Psalm 26
What does Psalm 26 mean?
It is a prayer asking God to judge and test the speaker, who claims to have walked in integrity, kept away from the wicked and loved God's house. It ends with a request for mercy and a promise to bless the LORD in public.
Who wrote Psalm 26?
The heading attributes it to David: "By David". The text does not say when it was written.
What does Psalm 26:3 mean?
It explains where the speaker's integrity comes from: God's loving kindness is always before their eyes, and so they have walked in his truth. The KJV reads "For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth."
What does Psalm 26:2 ask?
It asks God to examine, prove and try the speaker's heart and mind. It is an open invitation to be tested.
What does Psalm 26:8 say?
"LORD, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells." It expresses love for the place where God is worshipped.
Does Psalm 26 claim the speaker is sinless?
It does not use that word. It claims integrity and innocence of the specific wrongs it names, and in verse 11 the speaker still asks to be redeemed and shown mercy.
Psalm 26 KJV: the King James Version
Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.1
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.2
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.3
I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.4
I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.5
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:6
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.7
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.8
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:9
In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.10
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.11
My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.12
Psalm 26 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ שָׁפְטֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֗ה כִּֽי־אֲ֭נִי בְּתֻמִּ֣י הָלַ֑כְתִּי וּבַיהוָ֥ה בָּ֝טַ֗חְתִּי לֹ֣א אֶמְעָֽד׃
2 בְּחָנֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֣ה וְנַסֵּ֑נִי צרופה כִלְיוֹתַ֣י וְלִבִּֽי׃
3 כִּֽי־חַ֭סְדְּךָ לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָ֑י וְ֝הִתְהַלַּ֗כְתִּי בַּאֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃
4 לֹא־יָ֭שַׁבְתִּי עִם־מְתֵי־שָׁ֑וְא וְעִ֥ם נַ֝עֲלָמִ֗ים לֹ֣א אָבֽוֹא׃
5 שָׂ֭נֵאתִי קְהַ֣ל מְרֵעִ֑ים וְעִם־רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים לֹ֣א אֵשֵֽׁב׃
6 אֶרְחַ֣ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּ֑י וַאֲסֹבְבָ֖ה אֶת־מִזְבַּחֲךָ֣ יְהוָֽה׃
7 לַ֭שְׁמִעַ בְּק֣וֹל תּוֹדָ֑ה וּ֝לְסַפֵּ֗ר כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
8 יְֽהוָ֗ה אָ֭הַבְתִּי מְע֣וֹן בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וּ֝מְק֗וֹם מִשְׁכַּ֥ן כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃
9 אַל־תֶּאֱסֹ֣ף עִם־חַטָּאִ֣ים נַפְשִׁ֑י וְעִם־אַנְשֵׁ֖י דָמִ֣ים חַיָּֽי׃
10 אֲשֶׁר־בִּידֵיהֶ֥ם זִמָּ֑ה וִֽ֝ימִינָ֗ם מָ֣לְאָה שֹּֽׁחַד׃
11 וַ֭אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּ֥י אֵלֵ֗ךְ פְּדֵ֣נִי וְחָנֵּֽנִי׃
12 רַ֭גְלִי עָֽמְדָ֣ה בְמִישׁ֑וֹר בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗ים אֲבָרֵ֥ךְ יְהוָֽה׃
Psalm 26 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 25 there.
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1 Unto the end, a psalm for David. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence: and I have put my trust in the Lord, and shall not be weakened.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; burn my reins and my heart.
3 For thy mercy is before my eyes; and I am well pleased with thy truth.
4 I have not sat with the council of vanity: neither will I go in with the doers of unjust things.
5 I have hated the assembly of the malignant; and with the wicked I will not sit.
6 I will wash my hands among the innocent; and will compass thy altar, O Lord:
7 That I may hear the voice of thy praise: and tell of all thy wondrous works.
8 I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house; and the place where thy glory dwelleth.
9 Take not away my soul, O God, with the wicked: nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands are iniquities: their right hand is filled with gifts.
11 But as for me, I have walked in my innocence: redeem me, and have mercy on me.
12 My foot hath stood in the direct way: in the churches I will bless thee, O Lord.
Psalm 26 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 25.
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1 In finem. Psalmus David. Judica me, Domine, quoniam ego in innocentia mea ingressus sum, et in Domino sperans non infirmabor.
2 Proba me, Domine, et tenta me; ure renes meos et cor meum.
3 Quoniam misericordia tua ante oculos meos est, et complacui in veritate tua.
4 Non sedi cum concilio vanitatis, et cum iniqua gerentibus non introibo.
5 Odivi ecclesiam malignantium, et cum impiis non sedebo.
6 Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas, et circumdabo altare tuum, Domine:
7 ut audiam vocem laudis, et enarrem universa mirabilia tua.
8 Domine, dilexi decorem domus tuæ, et locum habitationis gloriæ tuæ.
9 Ne perdas cum impiis, Deus, animam meam, et cum viris sanguinum vitam meam:
10 in quorum manibus iniquitates sunt; dextera eorum repleta est muneribus.
11 Ego autem in innocentia mea ingressus sum; redime me, et miserere mei.
12 Pes meus stetit in directo; in ecclesiis benedicam te, Domine.
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Psalm 26 at a glance
| Verses | 12 |
| Heading in the text | By David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David: "By David". |
| Type | Prayer and Trust |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 25 |
Read Psalm 26 when you are facing
Psalm 26 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 26 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 26 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source