26
1 (Of Dovid)
Vindicate me, Hashem;
for I have walked in mine tohm (guilelessness);
I have trusted also in Hashem without wavering.
2 Examine me, Hashem, and prove me;
try my heart and my mind.
3 For Thy chesed is before mine eyes;
and I have walked in Thy emes.
4 I do not sit with metei-shav (men of vanity),
neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the kehal mere'im (congregation of evil doers);
and will not sit with the resha'im.
6 I will wash mine hands in nikkayon (innocency, cleanness, freedom from punishment);
so will I encompass Thine Mizbe'ach, Hashem;
7 That I may publish with the voice of todah,
and tell of all Thy wondrous works.
8 Hashem, I have loved the ma'on of Thy Bais,*
and the Mishkan where Thine kavod dwelleth.
9 Take not away my nefesh with chatta'im (sinners),
nor my Chai (life) with anshei damim;
10 In whose hands is zimmah (wicked plans),
and their right hand is full of shochad (bribery).
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity;
redeem me, v'chaneini (and be merciful and gracious unto me).
12 My regel standeth on level ground;
in the great assemblies unto Hashem will I render brocha.
* 26:8 HaMikdash