The Meaning of Psalms 26:5 Explained

Psalms 26:5

KJV: I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

YLT: I have hated the assembly of evil doers, And with the wicked I sit not.

Darby: I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and I have not sat with the wicked.

ASV: I hate the assembly of evil-doers, And will not sit with the wicked.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I have hated  the congregation  of evil doers;  and will not sit  with the wicked. 

What does Psalms 26:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 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: Psalms 26

1  David resorts to God in confidence of his integrity

What do the individual words in Psalms 26:5 mean?

I have hated the assembly of evildoers and with the wicked not will sit
שָׂ֭נֵאתִי קְהַ֣ל מְרֵעִ֑ים וְעִם־ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים לֹ֣א אֵשֵֽׁב

שָׂ֭נֵאתִי  I  have  hated 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
קְהַ֣ל  the  assembly 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָהָל  
Sense: assembly, company, congregation, convocation.
מְרֵעִ֑ים  of  evildoers 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
וְעִם־  and  with 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
אֵשֵֽׁב  will  sit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.