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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 26

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Of David. Vindicate me, Hashem, for I have walked without blame; I have trusted in Hashem; I have not faltered.

l'-da-VID shof-TAY-nee a-do-NAI kee a-NEE b'-tu-MEE ha-LAKH-tee u-va-do-NAI ba-TAKH-tee LO em-AD

אלְדָוִ֨ד ׀ שׇׁפְטֵ֤נִי יְהֹוָ֗ה כִּֽי־אֲ֭נִי בְּתֻמִּ֣י הָלַ֑כְתִּי וּבַיהֹוָ֥ה בָּ֝טַ֗חְתִּי לֹ֣א אֶמְעָֽד׃

26:1   Vindicate me

Rarely do we find a psalm which unabashedly calls out to Hashem for judgment. King David teaches us to always be introspective, and to find ways to improve ourselves and to remain humble before God. However, sometimes, when the circumstances are dire and the enemy is at the door, David will turn to God and ask for judgment. David states that he walked with innocence, truth, and praise of Hashem. He did not surround himself with liars, thieves or wicked men. Rather, he encircled the altar of God, speaking His praise and seeking His final home. Ultimately, in a choir of the multitudes David sings out to Hashem for vindication, and awaits His comforting response.

2Probe me, Hashem, and try me, test my heart and mind;

b'-kha-NE-nee a-do-NAI v'-na-SE-nee (tzor-FAH) [tzor-PAH] khee-LO-tai v'-li-BEE

בבְּחָנֵ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֣ה וְנַסֵּ֑נִי (צרופה) [צׇרְפָ֖ה] כִלְיוֹתַ֣י וְלִבִּֽי׃

3for my eyes are on Your steadfast love; I have set my course by it.

ki-khas-DE-kha l'-NE-ged e-NAI v'-hit-ha-LAKH-ti ba-a-mi-TE-kha

גכִּֽי־חַ֭סְדְּךָ לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָ֑י וְ֝הִתְהַלַּ֗כְתִּי בַּאֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃

4I do not consort with scoundrels, or mix with hypocrites;

lo ya-SHAV-tee im m'-TAY sha-VU v'-im na-a-la-MEEM lo a-VO

דלֹֽא־יָ֭שַׁבְתִּי עִם־מְתֵי־שָׁ֑וְא וְעִ֥ם נַ֝עֲלָמִ֗ים לֹ֣א אָבֽוֹא׃

5I detest the company of evil men, and do not consort with the wicked;

sa-NEE-tee k'-HAL me-re-EEM v'-im r'-sha-EEM lo e-SHEV

השָׂ֭נֵאתִי קְהַ֣ל מְרֵעִ֑ים וְעִם־רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים לֹ֣א אֵשֵֽׁב׃

6I wash my hands in innocence, and walk around Your mizbayach, Hashem,

er-KHATZ b'-ni-KA-yon ka-PAI va-a-sov-VAH et-miz-ba-KHA-kha a-do-NAI

ואֶרְחַ֣ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּ֑י וַאֲסֹבְבָ֖ה אֶת־מִזְבַּחֲךָ֣ יְהֹוָֽה׃

7raising my voice in thanksgiving, and telling all Your wonders.

la-SHE-mi-a b'-KOL to-DAH u-l'-sa-PER kol-nif-le-o-TE-kha

זלַ֭שְׁמִעַ בְּק֣וֹל תּוֹדָ֑ה וּ֝לְסַפֵּ֗ר כׇּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

8Hashem, I love Your temple abode, the dwelling-place of Your glory.

a-do-NAI a-HAV-tee m'-ON b'-YE-te-KHA u-m'-KOM m'-sh'-KAN k'-vo-DE-kha

חיְֽהֹוָ֗ה אָ֭הַבְתִּי מְע֣וֹן בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וּ֝מְק֗וֹם מִשְׁכַּ֥ן כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃

9Do not sweep me away with sinners, or [snuff out] my life with murderers,

al-te-e-SOF im-kha-ta-EEM naf-SHEE v'-im-an-SHAY da-MEEM kha-YAI

טאַל־תֶּאֱסֹ֣ף עִם־חַטָּאִ֣ים נַפְשִׁ֑י וְעִם־אַנְשֵׁ֖י דָמִ֣ים חַיָּֽי׃

10who have schemes at their fingertips, and hands full of bribes.

a-SHER bi-DAY-hem zi-MAH vi-yi-MI-nam mal-AH sho-KHAD

יאֲשֶׁר־בִּידֵיהֶ֥ם זִמָּ֑ה וִ֝ימִינָ֗ם מָ֣לְאָה שֹּֽׁחַד׃

11But I walk without blame; redeem me, have mercy on me!

va-a-NEE b'-tu-MEE e-LEKH pe-DE-nee v'-kha-NE-nee

יאוַ֭אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּ֥י אֵלֵ֗ךְ פְּדֵ֣נִי וְחׇנֵּֽנִי׃

12My feet are on level ground. In assemblies I will bless Hashem.

ra-G'-li o-M'-DAH b'-mi-SHOR, b'-mak-HE-lim a-va-REKH a-do-NAI.

יברַ֭גְלִי עָמְדָ֣ה בְמִישׁ֑וֹר בְּ֝מַקְהֵלִ֗ים אֲבָרֵ֥ךְ יְהֹוָֽה׃