Psalms 26:9

"Gather not my soul with sinners,

Nor my life with men of blood;

In whose hands is wickedness,

And their right hand is full of bribes.

But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity:

Redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

My foot standeth in an even place:

In the congregations will I bless Jehovah."

"Their right hand is full of bribes" (Psalms 26:10). "This is a reference to persons in office who took bribes to pervert judgment and justice."[20]

Adam Clarke also tabulated the several references to wicked men in this psalm.

They are vain, irreligious persons (Psalms 26:4).

They are deep, dark men, saying one thing, meaning something else (Psalms 26:4).

They are malignant, doing everything for their own ends (Psalms 26:5).

They regard neither God nor holy religion (Psalms 26:5).

They are blood-thirsty murderers, "men of blood" (Psalms 26:9).

They are traffickers in wickedness (Psalms 26:9).

They are ready with their hands to execute the wicked schemes of their hearts (Psalms 26:10).

They are lovers of bribes, perverting judgment for the sake of money.[21]

All of these verses are a plea from David that God will not appoint his portion with the wicked; and Psalms 26:12 carries the assurance that God has heard his prayer.

"My foot standeth on an even place" (Psalms 26:12). "These words are a symbol of comfort and safety."[22] "The psalmist is sure that his desire of compassing God's altar with praise will be fulfilled, and that, instead of compulsory association with `the congregation of evil-doers,' he will bless Jehovah `in the congregation' where God's name is loved and that he will find himself among those who, like himself, delight in the praise of God."[23]

Delitzsch also agreed that, "The prayer here changes to rejoicing due to the certainty that the answer shall be given. Hitherto, as it were, shut in by deep trackless gorges, he now feels himself to be standing upon a pleasant plain."[24]

Note: The notion that God's "habitation" mentioned in Psalms 26:8 is the Jewish Temple is sometimes advanced as proof that David could not have written this psalm; but the American Standard Version margin reveals that the Hebrew text in Psalms 26:8 actually has the words, "The house of the tabernacle of thy glory."