לְדָוִד שָׁפְטֵנִי ה' כִּי אֲנִי בְּתֻמִּי הָלַכְתִּי וּבַה' בָּטַחְתִּי לֹא אֶמְעָד

By David. Judge me for my thoughts and deeds, Lord, for I have walked in innocence. I have trusted in the Lord, and as I have chosen to follow a path of integrity and trust in God, I have faith that I shall not falter.

בְּחָנֵנִי ה' וְנַסֵּנִי צָרְפָה כִלְיוֹתַי וְלִבִּי

Examine me, Lord, and try me, and You will see that I truly am devoted to following Your way. Purify my mind and my heart.

כִּי חַסְדְּךָ לְנֶגֶד עֵינָי וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ

For Your kindness is before my eyes, as I set my direction toward Your acts of kindness, and I walk in the path of Your truth.

לֹא יָשַׁבְתִּי עִם מְתֵי שָׁוְא וְעִם נַעֲלָמִים לֹא אָבוֹא

I do not sit with worthless men, nor do I go with those who must hide themselves because of their nefarious activities.

שָׂנֵאתִי קְהַל מְרֵעִים וְעִם רְשָׁעִים לֹא אֵשֵׁב

I abhor the assembly of evildoers and will not sit with the wicked.

אֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּי וַאֲסֹבְבָה אֶת מִזְבַּחֲךָ ה'

Rather, I wash my hands in purity. This may be understood both literally and figuratively. Literally, I wash my hands in preparation for prayer to You; figuratively, I keep my hands clean of evildoing. And I circle Your altar, Lord, in the manner of worshippers who come to pray at the Temple,

לַשְׁמִעַ בְּקוֹל תּוֹדָה וּלְסַפֵּר כָּל נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ

proclaiming thankfulness there, and telling of all Your wonders.

ה' אָהַבְתִּי מְעוֹן בֵּיתֶךָ וּמְקוֹם מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶךָ

The psalmist concludes: Lord, I love the abode of Your House and I frequent it, the place where Your glory dwells.

אַל תֶּאֱסֹף עִם חַטָּאִים נַפְשִׁי וְעִם אַנְשֵׁי דָמִים חַיָּי

Therefore, I beseech You: Do not gather in my soul with sinners when You punish them; do not take my life along with those of men of bloodshed,

אֲשֶׁר בִּידֵיהֶם זִמָּה וִימִינָם מָלְאָה שֹּׁחַד

who have intrigue and evil plans in their hands and whose right hand is full of bribes.

ואֲנִי בְּתֻמִּי אֵלֵךְ פְּדֵנִי וְחָנֵּנִי

But I go in my innocence; therefore, redeem me and be gracious to me.

רַגְלִי עָמְדָה בְמִישׁוֹר בְּמַקְהֵלִים אֲבָרֵךְ ה'

My foot stands on a straight path. In convocations of the righteous I will bless the Lord.