Psalm 26

Psalm 26, the 26th psalm of the Book of Psalms in the Bible, begins (in the King James Version): "Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity".

This article is about Psalm 26 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 26 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 27.
Psalm 26
"Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity"
Samuel anointing David, illumination of Psalm 26 from the Saint Bertin psalter
Other name
  • Psalm 25 (Vulgate)
  • "Iudica me Domine"
LanguageHebrew (original)
Psalm 26
BookBook of Psalms
Hebrew Bible partKetuvim
Order in the Hebrew part1
CategorySifrei Emet
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part19
Text of Psalm 26:8 at St. Michael in Bienenbüttel

The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 25. In Latin, it is known as "Iudica me Domine".[1] The psalm is attributed to David by its sub-title.[2] Albert Barnes argues that "there is no reason to doubt the correctness of the superscription",[3] but according to Charles and Emilie Briggs, it is to be dated within the Persian period (539 to 333 BCE).[4] The Briggs describe the psalm as

a profession of integrity by a Levite, engaged in worshipping Yahweh in the temple choir. (1) He professes integrity in walk, and unwavering trust in Yahweh, as attested by Yahweh Himself (v.1-2). (2) Ever conscious of the divine kindness and faithfulness, he abstains from all association with the wicked (v.3-4). (3) He hates the company of the wicked and purifies himself for sacrifice (v.5-6). (4) He loves the temple (v.8), and stands in its choir blessing Yahweh (v.12) [4]

They add that the "elements of prayer and worship" in verses 9 to 11 are additions by a later editor.[4]

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Nonconformist Protestant liturgies.

Text

Hebrew Bible version

The following is the Hebrew text of Psalm 26:[5]

Verse Hebrew
1 ;לְדָוִד: שָׁפְטֵנִי יְהוָה-- כִּי-אֲנִי, בְּתֻמִּי הָלַכְתִּי

.וּבַיהוָה בָּטַחְתִּי, לֹא אֶמְעָד

2 .בְּחָנֵנִי יְהוָה וְנַסֵּנִי; צרופה (צָרְפָה) כִלְיוֹתַי וְלִבִּי
3 .כִּי-חַסְדְּךָ, לְנֶגֶד עֵינָי; וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי, בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ
4 .א-יָשַׁבְתִּי, עִם-מְתֵי-שָׁוְא; וְעִם נַעֲלָמִים, לֹא אָבוֹא
5 .שָׂנֵאתִי, קְהַל מְרֵעִים; וְעִם-רְשָׁעִים, לֹא אֵשֵׁב
6 .אֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּי; וַאֲסֹבְבָה אֶת-מִזְבַּחֲךָ יְהוָה
7 .לַשְׁמִעַ, בְּקוֹל תּוֹדָה; וּלְסַפֵּר, כָּל-נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ
8 .יְהוָה--אָהַבְתִּי, מְעוֹן בֵּיתֶךָ; וּמְקוֹם, מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ
9 .אַל-תֶּאֱסֹף עִם-חַטָּאִים נַפְשִׁי; וְעִם-אַנְשֵׁי דָמִים חַיָּי
10 .אֲשֶׁר-בִּידֵיהֶם זִמָּה; וִימִינָם, מָלְאָה שֹּׁחַד
11 .וַאֲנִי, בְּתֻמִּי אֵלֵךְ; פְּדֵנִי וְחָנֵּנִי
12 .רַגְלִי, עָמְדָה בְמִישׁוֹר; בְּמַקְהֵלִים, אֲבָרֵךְ יְהוָה

King James Version
  1. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
  2. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
  3. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
  4. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
  5. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
  6. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
  7. That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
  8. LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
  9. 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.

Structure

The psalm is divided into 2 parts

  1. Verses 1-11: Pleas and affirmation of justice for the Psalmist
  2. Verse 12: certainty of being heard and confident vows

The following observations can be made:

  • The absence of a complaint. The peculiarity of the absence of an action falls on the Psalm:[6] there is no reference to the wicked, which poses a risk for the psalmist in any way.
  • The highlighting of the temple. The psalm refers not only to the "house of the Lord" (verse 8) and "Assembly" (verse 12), but also to the rites that are performed by the Psalmist in the Temple: the symbolic washing of hands, the circumambulation of the altar (verse 6) and the subsequent singing (verse 7).[6]

Uses

New Testament
Wall paintings of the text of John 3:5 and Psalm 26:6 "I will wash my hands in innocency, o Lord, and so will I go to thine altar" at St James in Bramley, Hampshire

Speculatively, this psalm is referenced in the story of the public trial of Jesus. After succumbing to the wishes of the gathered crowd, Pontius Pilate purportedly washed his hands to show his innocence of their judgement. In the account, this could function as an outward display of someone mechanically following the psalm verse, but it would be apparent to the original Jewish audience that his abdication of the responsibility of judging justly was not in its spirit.[7]

Judaism

In Judaism, verse 8 is the third verse of Ma Tovu.[8][9]

Catholic Church

According to the monastic tradition this psalm was since St. Benedict of Nursia, performed during the celebration of matins of Sundays.[10] Today, Psalm 26 is recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday Week 1.[11]

Verses 6-12 are said during the Lavabo (washing of the hands) of the Tridentine Mass.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the fifth day of the month.[12]

Musical setting

Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a metric paraphrase of Psalm 26 in German, "Herr, schaff mir Recht, nimm dich mein an", SWV 123, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.

References
  1. Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 25 (26) Archived 10 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
  2. Psalm 26: New American Standard Bible
  3. Barnes, A. (1834), Barnes' Notes on Psalm 26, accessed 20 October 2021
  4. Charles Augustus Briggs; Emilie Grace Briggs (1960) [1906]. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. International Critical Commentary. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T & T Clark. p. 229.
  5. "Psalms Chapter 14 תְּהִלִּים". mechon-mamre.org. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  6. Craig C. Broyles (2005), Psalms Concerning Temple Entry in The Book of Psalms: Composition and Reception, 261
  7. "Matthew 27:24 when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "You bear the responsibility."".
  8. The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 12
  9. D’après le Complete Artscroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives.
  10. Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p. 73,
  11. Règle de saint Benoît, traduction par Prosper Guéranger, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p. 46.
  12. Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
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