The Meaning of Psalms 26:1 Explained

Psalms 26:1

KJV: {A Psalm of David.} Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

YLT: By David. Judge me, O Jehovah, for I in mine integrity have walked, And in Jehovah I have trusted, I slide not.

Darby: {A Psalm of David.} Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in mine integrity, and I have confided in Jehovah: I shall not slip.

ASV: Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in Jehovah without wavering.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{[A Psalm] of David.  }} Judge  me, O LORD;  for I have walked  in mine integrity:  I have trusted  also in the LORD;  [therefore] I shall not slide. 

What does Psalms 26:1 Mean?

Study Notes

trusted
.
trust
Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Context Summary

Psalm 26:1-12 - A Declaration Of Loyalty To God
In some respects this psalm resembles the previous one, only, instead of entreaties for forgiveness, there are protestations of innocence. It may have been composed during Absalom's rebellion, and contains a strenuous protest against the dissembling and hypocrisy upon which that revolt was based. In these avowals of conscious rectitude, it should be borne in mind that David did not mean to claim absolute sinlessness, but rather to declare his innocence of the specific charges with which he had been assailed.
We all need the laver of purification mentioned in Psalms 26:6-7. Or better, let us repair to our Lord, who still washes the feet of His disciples, as in John 13:1-38. Hatred to evil men is one side of the coin; love to God's house, the reverse. Either implies the other. However firm our foot seems to stand, we all need the redeeming mercy and grace of God. Ah, the riches of His gentle goodness! Ephesians 2:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 26

1  David resorts to God in confidence of his integrity

What do the individual words in Psalms 26:1 mean?

A Psalm of David Vindicate me Yahweh for I in my integrity have walked also in Yahweh I have trusted not I shall slip
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ שָׁפְטֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֗ה כִּֽי־ אֲ֭נִי בְּתֻמִּ֣י הָלַ֑כְתִּי וּבַיהוָ֥ה בָּ֝טַ֗חְתִּי לֹ֣א אֶמְעָֽד

לְדָוִ֨ד ׀  A  Psalm  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
שָׁפְטֵ֤נִי  Vindicate  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּתֻמִּ֣י  in  my  integrity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: תֹּם  
Sense: integrity, completeness.
הָלַ֑כְתִּי  have  walked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וּבַיהוָ֥ה  also  in  Yahweh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בָּ֝טַ֗חְתִּי  I  have  trusted 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
אֶמְעָֽד  I  shall  slip 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: מָעַד  
Sense: to slip, slide, totter, shake.