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Psalm 26

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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

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".

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

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Hebrew

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The following table shows the Hebrew text[5][6] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse Hebrew English translation (JPS 1917)
1 לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ שׇׁפְטֵ֤נִי יְהֹוָ֗ה כִּֽי־אֲ֭נִי בְּתֻמִּ֣י הָלַ֑כְתִּי וּבַיהֹוָ֥ה בָּ֝טַ֗חְתִּי לֹ֣א אֶמְעָֽד׃‎ [A Psalm] of David. Judge me, O LORD, for I have walked in mine integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 בְּחָנֵ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֣ה וְנַסֵּ֑נִי (צרופה) [צׇרְפָ֖ה] כִלְיוֹתַ֣י וְלִבִּֽי׃‎ Examine me, O LORD, and try me; test my reins and my heart.
3 כִּֽי־חַ֭סְדְּךָ לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָ֑י וְ֝הִתְהַלַּ֗כְתִּי בַּאֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃‎ For Thy mercy is before mine eyes; and I have walked in Thy truth.
4 לֹֽא־יָ֭שַׁבְתִּי עִם־מְתֵי־שָׁ֑וְא וְעִ֥ם נַ֝עֲלָמִ֗ים לֹ֣א אָבֽוֹא׃‎ I have not sat with men of falsehood; neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 שָׂ֭נֵאתִי קְהַ֣ל מְרֵעִ֑ים וְעִם־רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים לֹ֣א אֵשֵֽׁב׃‎ I hate the gathering of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked.
6 אֶרְחַ֣ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּ֑י וַאֲסֹבְבָ֖ה אֶת־מִזְבַּחֲךָ֣ יְהֹוָֽה׃‎ I will wash my hands in innocency; so will I compass Thine altar, O LORD,
7 לַ֭שְׁמִעַ בְּק֣וֹל תּוֹדָ֑ה וּ֝לְסַפֵּ֗ר כׇּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃‎ That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and tell of all Thy wondrous works.
8 יְֽהֹוָ֗ה אָ֭הַבְתִּי מְע֣וֹן בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וּ֝מְק֗וֹם מִשְׁכַּ֥ן כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃‎ LORD, I love the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth.
9 אַל־תֶּאֱסֹ֣ף עִם־חַטָּאִ֣ים נַפְשִׁ֑י וְעִם־אַנְשֵׁ֖י דָמִ֣ים חַיָּֽי׃‎ Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of blood;
10 אֲשֶׁר־בִּידֵיהֶ֥ם זִמָּ֑ה וִ֝ימִינָ֗ם מָ֣לְאָה שֹּֽׁחַד׃‎ In whose hands is craftiness, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 וַ֭אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּ֥י אֵלֵ֗ךְ פְּדֵ֣נִי וְחׇנֵּֽנִי׃‎ But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity; Redeem me, and be gracious unto me.
12 רַ֭גְלִי עָמְדָ֣ה בְמִישׁ֑וֹר בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗ים אֲבָרֵ֥ךְ יְהֹוָֽה׃‎ My foot standeth in an even place; in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

King James Version

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  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

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The psalm is divided into 2 parts [by whom?]

  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:[7] 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).[7]

Uses

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New Testament

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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.[according to whom?][8]

Judaism

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In Judaism, verse 8 is the third verse of Ma Tovu.[9][10]

Catholic Church

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According to the monastic tradition this psalm was since St. Benedict of Nursia, performed during the celebration of matins of Sundays.[11] Today, Psalm 26 is recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday Week 1.[12]

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

Eastern Orthodox Church

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In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 25 (Psalm 26 in the Masoretic Text) is part of the fourth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Matins on Monday mornings, as well as on Wednesdays during Lent at the Sixth Hour.[13]

Psalm 25/26 is also read at the rite of the consecration of a church, after the consecration of the altar.

Book of Common Prayer

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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.[14]

Musical setting

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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

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  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. ^ a b c 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 26". Mechon Mamre.
  6. ^ "Psalms 26 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
  7. ^ a b Craig C. Broyles (2005), Psalms Concerning Temple Entry in The Book of Psalms: Composition and Reception, 261
  8. ^ "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."".
  9. ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 12
  10. ^ D’après le Complete Artscroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives.
  11. ^ Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p. 73,
  12. ^ Règle de saint Benoît, traduction par Prosper Guéranger, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p. 46.
  13. ^ The Holy Psalter, Saint Ignatius Orthodox Press, 2022
  14. ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
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