Psalms

About this book

Psalm 26

1 By David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have integrity, and I trust in the Lord without wavering. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me. Examine my kidneys and my heart³.⁠ 3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, and your loyalty continually motivates me. 4 I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest. 5 I hate the mob of evil men, and do not associate with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands in innocence,¹¹ so I can appear before your altar, O Lord,⁠ 7 to give you thanks, and to tell about all your amazing deeds. 8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live, the place where your splendor is revealed. 9 Do not sweep me away with sinners, or execute me along with violent people, 10 who are always ready to do wrong or offer a bribe. 11 But I have integrity. Rescue me and have mercy on me! 12 I am safe, and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

Texts in conversation

Compare Dialogue Between a Man and his God and Psalm 26:2

Ancient Near East, Babylonian · Hebrew Bible

Summary

Psalm 26 and the Mesopotamian text Dialogue Between a Man and His God reflect ancient Near Eastern tradition that the kidneys and heart are centers of thought and morality. In both, the speaker asks for them to be examined as proof of their integrity.

Passages

Dialogue Between a Man and his God

Ancient Near East, Babylonian · AO 4462

A man weeps to his god like a friend, He constantly prays. His heart is aflame, his toil is grim, His kidneys are grieving from suffering. He has become weak and then bent: he is prostrated. His toil has become too heavy for him, he has drawn near to weep. He brays like the weaned foal of a donkey. He has got loud in the god’s presence, his chief. A bull is his speech, his voice two lamenters. His lips bear a lament to his lord. He recounts to his lord the toil he has gone through. The man explains the suffering he is enduring: “My lord, I have examined my kidneys ... In my heart. I do not know what sin I have committed. Have I committed an abomination against you?

1700 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Dialogue Between a Man and his God

Psalm 26:2

Hebrew Bible

1 By David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have integrity, and I trust in the Lord without wavering. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me. Examine my kidneys and my heart³. 3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, and your loyalty continually motivates me. 4 I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.

600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

References

"... The words כליה [kidney] and לב [heart] in Psalm 26:2 are also suggestive of typical wisdom language. The use of various words referring to organs of the body is significant because it functions as succinct expressions used by sages. The meanings of melting and testing of metals are used in parallel to כליה [kidney] and לב [heart]. They are the seats of emotions and passions as well as intellectual and moral nature and in this regard reminiscent of Jeremiah 11:20, 17:10 and 20:12 ..."

Annette Potgieter, “Psalm 26 and Proverbs: Tracing Wisdom Themes,” VE 35.1 (2014).

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Psalms150 psalms

Compare Dialogue Between a Man and his God and Psalm 26:2

Summary

Passages

Dialogue Between a Man and his God

Psalm 26:2

References

Tags

Your feedback

Leave a comment

Glossary

Search the Library