Discovery BoxPsalms 26:3-6 
Context26:3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, 1
and your loyalty continually motivates me. 2
26:4 I do not associate 3 with deceitful men,
or consort 4 with those who are dishonest. 5
26:5 I hate the mob 6 of evil men,
and do not associate 7 with the wicked.
26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle, 8
so I can appear before your altar, 9 O Lord,
1 tn Heb “for your faithfulness [is] before my eyes.”
2 tn Heb “and I walk about in your loyalty.”
sn The psalmist’s awareness of the Lord’s faithfulness and…loyalty toward him motivates him to remain loyal to the Lord and to maintain his moral purity.
3 tn Heb “sit.”
4 tn Heb “go.” The psalmist uses the imperfect form of the verb to emphasize that he does not make a practice of associating with such people.
5 tn Heb “[those who] conceal themselves.”
6 tn Heb “assembly, company.”
7 tn Heb “sit.” The psalmist uses the imperfect form of the verb to emphasize that he does not make a practice of associating with such people.
8 tn Heb “I wash my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The imperfect verbal emphasizes that this is his habit.
9 tn Heb “so I can go around your altar” (probably in ritual procession). Following the imperfect of the preceding line, the cohortative with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose or result.
