
Psalm 26, also known as Iudica me Domine in Latin, is a prayer of innocence attributed to David. It is part of the Book of Psalms, which is found in the Christian Old Testament and the Hebrew Bible. The psalm is recited or sung during religious services in several Christian denominations, including Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Nonconformist Protestant liturgies. It is also part of the monastic tradition, performed during the celebration of matins on Sundays. While the Catholic Church uses the same Lectionary worldwide, different language editions may be used in various countries, typically drawing on approved local translations of the Bible. The Revised Common Lectionary, for instance, includes references to various psalms, including Psalm 107 and Psalm 49.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recitation | Recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday Week 1 |
| Verses | Verses 6-12 are said during the Lavabo (washing of the hands) of the Tridentine Mass |
| Liturgies | Forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Nonconformist Protestant liturgies |
| Rituals | Refers to the rites performed in the Temple, including the symbolic washing of hands, the circumambulation of the altar, and subsequent singing |
| Editions | The 1998/2002 USA edition of the Catholic Lectionary includes the full texts of the readings, with some editions in different languages |
| Translation | The Latin Lectionary draws upon approved local translations of the Bible, while the local Lectionaries contain direct translations of the Latin texts |
| Common Psalms | The Catholic Lectionary includes common psalms and gospel acclamations, with the main biblical texts read at Mass |
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What You'll Learn
- Psalm 26 is recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday Week 1
- The psalm is attributed to David and is a prayer of innocence
- The psalmist seeks God's protection upon entering the Temple
- The psalm is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible
- The Latin Lectionary includes the full texts to be used at each Mass

Psalm 26 is recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday Week 1
Psalm 26 is a regular part of Catholic liturgies. It is recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday of Week 1. The psalm is attributed to David and is a prayer of innocence. In it, David seeks God's protection upon entering the Temple.
The psalm begins with a plea for God to judge him, as he has walked with integrity and trusts in the Lord. This is followed by a reminder to God of David's past integrity, along with a request for purification. Verses 4-5 pray for inclusion among the just, while the central verses (6-8) express joy in God, who is at the heart of all ritual.
Verse 6 mentions the washing of hands, a liturgical act symbolic of inner and outer cleanliness. Verses 6-12 are said during the Lavabo (the washing of the hands) of the Tridentine Mass. The psalm also refers to the "house of the Lord" (v.8) and "Assembly" (v.12), as well as the rites performed in the Temple.
The absence of any reference to the wicked or any risk to the psalmist is peculiar. Instead, the psalm highlights the Temple and the rituals performed there, such as the circumambulation of the altar (v.6) and subsequent singing (v.7).
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The psalm is attributed to David and is a prayer of innocence
Psalm 26 is a prayer of innocence attributed to David. The psalm begins with a plea to God to judge him, as David believes he has walked with integrity and trust in God. This is a common theme in David's prayers, as seen in Psalm 17, where he asks God to test him and declares his innocence. David's commitment to God and his pathways is evident in his prayers, where he resolves to keep himself from violence and follow God's path.
In Psalm 26, David seeks God's protection as he enters the Temple, reminding God of his past integrity and asking for purification. The psalm also refers to the “house of the Lord" and the "Assembly", as well as the symbolic washing of hands and other rites performed in the Temple. The psalm is part of the monastic tradition and is recited or sung during specific times in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, and Anglican liturgies.
The psalm is attributed to David by its subtitle, and Albert Barnes agrees with this attribution. However, Charles and Emilie Briggs date the psalm to the Persian period (539 to 333 BCE) and describe it as a profession of integrity by a Levite worshipping in the temple choir. They highlight David's unwavering trust in Yahweh and his profession of integrity in walk.
David's prayers often reflect his strong connection with God and his commitment to following God's path. In Psalm 26, he expresses his trust in God and his desire to be judged and purified. This psalm, like others attributed to David, serves as a powerful reminder of God's majesty and our dependence on Him.
Overall, Psalm 26, attributed to David, is a prayer of innocence that showcases David's unwavering trust in God and his commitment to walking with integrity and following God's pathways.
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The psalmist seeks God's protection upon entering the Temple
Psalm 26 is a prayer of innocence, attributed to King David. In the psalm, David seeks God's protection as he enters the Temple. He reminds God of his past integrity and asks for purification, expressing his joy in God at the heart of all ritual.
The psalm begins with David asking God to "Judge me, LORD! For I have walked in my integrity. In the LORD I trust; I do not falter" (Psalm 26:1). This is a declaration of his unwavering trust in God and his blameless life, led according to God's commands. David is confident in his possession of the marks of the homeward bound—those who will be admitted into God's presence. He calls upon God to "test," "try," and "examine" him (Psalm 26:2).
David enumerates four marks of the homeward bound. The first, as mentioned, is an unwavering trust in God for salvation (Psalm 26:1, 3). The second mark is walking in God's truth, leading a blameless life (Psalm 26:1, 3). The third mark is separation from the ungodly. David declares that he does not consort with those who abhor God, including the "wicked," "deceitful," "evildoers," and "hypocrites" (Psalm 26:4-5). The fourth mark is a passionate love for God, including God's praise, people, and house (Psalm 26:8).
David's expression of love for God's house is evident in verse 8: "I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells." This declaration of devotion to God's dwelling place underscores the psalmist's desire for God's protection and blessing as he enters the Temple.
The ritual of handwashing, mentioned in verse 6, further emphasizes the psalmist's pursuit of purity and protection upon entering the Temple. The liturgical act of washing hands symbolizes inner and outer cleanliness, reflecting the psalmist's spiritual preparation as he approaches God's presence in the Temple.
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The psalm is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible
The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible and a book of the Christian Old Testament. Psalm 26 is the 26th psalm of the Book of Psalms. In the numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is referred to as Psalm 25. In Latin, it is known as "Iudica me Domine", which translates to "Judge me, O LORD".
The psalm is attributed to David by its subtitle and is a profession of integrity and unwavering trust in God. It is recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday Week 1. Verses 6-12 are said during the Lavabo (the washing of hands) of the Tridentine Mass. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, this psalm is part of the fourth Kathisma division of the Psalter, read at Matins on Monday mornings and during Lent on Wednesdays at the Sixth Hour.
Psalm 26 is also found in the Catholic Lectionary, which is used in the Catholic Church worldwide. The Catholic Lectionary draws upon approved local translations of the Bible to supply the full texts of the readings. The Lectionary for Mass does not print the full texts of the main biblical texts read at Mass but provides the appropriate biblical references and an "incipit" or brief annotation specifying how the reading is to begin. The USA edition of the Lectionary for Mass includes the full texts of the Refrain of the Responsorial Psalm and the Acclamation before the Gospel.
The psalm is also part of Jewish, Lutheran, Anglican, and Nonconformist Protestant liturgies.
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The Latin Lectionary includes the full texts to be used at each Mass
The Latin Lectionary includes the full texts to be used for the Refrain of the Responsorial Psalm and the Acclamation before the Gospel (called the "Alleluia Verse" outside of Lent, or the "Verse before the Gospel" during Lent). The Latin Lectionary, or Ordo Lectionum Missae, is the book that contains the readings for the Catholic Mass. While the Catholic Church uses basically the same Lectionary worldwide, the various editions in different languages draw on approved local translations of the Bible to supply the full texts of the readings.
The Lectionary for Mass includes comparative tables of all the readings prescribed for Masses in the Roman Catholic Church. It also includes the texts of all the approved Eucharistic Prayers, arranged in tables for comparative analysis. The Latin Lectionary does not print the full texts to be read for the main biblical texts (First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading, and Gospel), but instead gives the appropriate biblical references and an "incipit" (a brief annotation specifying how the reading is to begin).
The Catholic Mass is divided into "ordinary" and "proper" parts. The "ordinary" parts are texts that, with some variations, are part of the Mass on a daily basis. The "proper" parts are the texts of prayers and Scripture readings specific to the feast, feria, or other occasions being observed. The choice of psalm in the Lectionary depends on the readings, as the individual psalm texts are directly connected with the individual readings. However, some texts of responses and psalms have been chosen to facilitate participation, according to the different seasons and classes of saints.
Psalm 26, "Iudica me Domine" ("Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity"), is part of the Book of Psalms in the Bible. It is recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday Week 1. Verses 6-12 are said during the Lavabo (the washing of hands) of the Tridentine Mass. In the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 25.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Psalm 26 is in the Catholic Lectionary. It is also known as "Iudica me Domine" in Latin.
The Catholic Lectionary is a collection of texts used for Mass in the Catholic Church. It includes readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Responsorial Psalm.
Psalm 26 is recited or sung during the Daytime Hours on Friday Week 1. It is also part of the liturgy in the Catholic Church on other occasions, such as during the Lavabo of the Tridentine Mass.



































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