Psalm 26:10 kjv
In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
Psalm 26:10 nkjv
In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.
Psalm 26:10 niv
in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
Psalm 26:10 esv
in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.
Psalm 26:10 nlt
Their hands are dirty with evil schemes,
and they constantly take bribes.
Psalm 26 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 23:8 | “You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted...” | Condemns bribery, corrupts judgment |
| Deut 16:19 | "You shall not distort justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe..." | Forbids bribes, upholds righteous judgment |
| Psa 15:5 | "He who does not put out his money at interest...nor take a bribe..." | Characteristics of a righteous person |
| Psa 24:4 | "He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." | Prerequisite for drawing near to God |
| Psa 26:6 | "I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Yahweh" | Psalmist's clean hands contrast with wicked |
| Psa 58:2 | "No, in heart you devise injustices; On earth you deal out the violence of your hands." | Wicked plots and violent actions |
| Psa 94:20 | "Shall a throne of mischief be allied with You, which devises evil by law?" | Condemns legal perversion and evil designs |
| Prov 1:19 | "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors." | Greed's destructive path |
| Prov 6:18 | "...a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run swiftly to evil," | Heart of wicked devises evil schemes |
| Prov 12:2 | "A good man obtains favor from Yahweh, but He condemns a man who devises wicked schemes." | God's view on those who devise wicked schemes |
| Prov 17:23 | "A wicked man takes a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice." | Bribery subverts justice |
| Prov 28:21 | "To show partiality is not good, for a piece of bread a man will do wrong." | Corruption often for petty gains |
| Isa 1:23 | "Your rulers are rebellious and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes..." | Widespread corruption in leadership |
| Isa 5:23 | "...who declare the wicked innocent for a bribe and deprive the righteous of their justice!" | Injustice through bribery and perversion |
| Isa 33:15 | "He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who rejects gain from oppressions, who shakes his hands free from holding a bribe..." | Characteristics of one who fears Yahweh |
| Amos 5:12 | "For I know your many transgressions...You who exact a bribe and turn aside the needy at the gate." | Bribery against the needy |
| Mic 3:11 | "Her leaders give judgment for a bribe, and her priests teach for a price..." | Pervasive corruption in leadership |
| Matt 23:25 | "Woe to you...for you clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." | Inner corruption of the outwardly righteous |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil..." | Connection between greed and evil |
| Titus 1:7 | "...not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy for dishonest gain..." | Requirement for spiritual leadership |
Psalm 26 verses
Psalm 26 10 Meaning
Psalm 26:10 vividly describes the inherent corruption and methods of the wicked. Their actions are not accidental but stem from deep-seated malicious intent, characterized by carefully crafted evil schemes. Furthermore, their primary means of influence and power, symbolized by the "right hand," is entirely dedicated to unjust gains through bribery. This portrays a pervasive and systematic depravity where all their operational capacity is steeped in dishonest dealings and the perversion of justice.
Psalm 26 10 Context
Psalm 26 is a prayer of David, a plea for divine vindication based on his integrity. He asserts his blameless walk, his trust in God, and his devotion to divine truth, directly contrasting himself with the wicked. The psalm details David's commitment to clean living and separation from those who practice iniquity. Verse 10 specifically describes the moral degradation of the very people David seeks to dissociate from. They are characterized by bloody deeds (v.9) and deeply embedded corruption. The cultural context emphasizes that "justice at the gate" (where community decisions were made and legal cases heard) was vital, and bribery (Hebrew shochad) was a significant threat, undermining the fabric of a righteous society and betraying the covenant values of ancient Israel. David's prayer is not only for personal vindication but also an appeal for God's righteousness to prevail against such pervasive evil.
Psalm 26 10 Word analysis
- In whose hands (בַּפַּ֣יִם – bap-payim): Hebrew for "hands" is kappayim, a dual form, meaning "both hands." Significance: Denotes full agency, power, and the instruments of their actions. It signifies not just what they passively possess but what they actively carry out. It encompasses their entire mode of operation.
- are evil devices (מְזִמָּה – mezimmah): From the root zamam, meaning "to plan, devise." Significance: Refers to cunning schemes, malicious plots, wicked intentions, or evil counsel. It speaks of calculated, premeditated wrongdoing rather than impulsive acts. It reveals the internal nature of their evil before it is enacted.
- And whose right hand (וִֽימִינָ֗ה – wî-mî-nāh): Hebrew for "right hand" is yeminah. Significance: The right hand traditionally symbolizes strength, authority, power, action, blessing, and honor. It's often the hand used for oath-taking or exercising power. Its specific mention highlights that even their strongest, most authoritative means of action and influence are corrupted.
- is full (מָלְאָה – mal’ah): Hebrew for "full," expressing a state of completeness or saturation. Significance: Conveys that their right hand is not merely stained but completely overflowing with bribery. This indicates the abundance, pervasiveness, and central role that corruption plays in their actions and means of operation. It's their defining characteristic.
- of bribes (שֹׁ֝חַד – shochad): Hebrew for "bribe" or "corrupt payment." * Significance: Illicit payments intended to pervert justice, influence decisions unfairly, or gain undue advantage. The Bible consistently condemns bribes as they undermine fairness, truth, and righteous judgment, often at the expense of the poor and vulnerable. It reveals their preferred method of achieving their wicked devices.
- "In whose hands are evil devices": This phrase reveals the internal moral state and the active scheming nature of the wicked. Their hands, representing their agency, are occupied not just with evil acts, but with the very conception and planning of mischief. Their evil is intentional and deliberated.
- "And whose right hand is full of bribes": This further defines the wicked by their external actions and means of power. Their most potent means of execution and influence ("right hand") is completely corrupted by illegitimate gains. It indicates a systematic and overwhelming reliance on dishonesty and perversion of justice to achieve their aims. It contrasts sharply with God's holy hand and the clean hands of the righteous.
Psalm 26 10 Bonus section
The strong imagery of the "right hand" is deeply significant. In ancient Israelite culture, the right hand was not only associated with strength but also with the swearing of oaths (Gen 24:9) and establishing covenants. To have the right hand "full of bribes" signifies a profound betrayal of trust and an abuse of power, utterly negating any pretense of integrity or legitimate authority. This vivid picture contrasts with the divine right hand, which represents God's power, salvation, and righteousness (Psa 20:6, Psa 44:3). The wicked's hand, therefore, is a perversion of a divine symbol of strength and righteousness. This moral description reinforces why the psalmist desired complete separation from such individuals, lest he be caught in their "lot" (Psa 26:9).
Psalm 26 10 Commentary
Psalm 26:10 is a sharp portrayal of the wicked individuals from whom the psalmist seeks divine separation. It lays bare their twofold depravity: internal malice and external corruption. "Evil devices" (mezimmah) highlights their heart's dark inclination toward deliberate plotting and mischievous design. This isn't random wickedness but calculated, insidious intent. Coupled with this, their "right hand is full of bribes" (shochad), emphasizing that their very capacity for action, influence, and power (the "right hand") is utterly compromised by dishonest gain. It signifies a complete saturation of their methods with illegal and unjust acquisition, particularly through the perversion of judgment. This verse underlines that their entire way of operating, from thought to action, is defined by corrupt practices that violate God's law and righteous principles. The psalmist identifies these characteristics as antithetical to his own desire for integrity and purity.Practical Usage:
- Discernment: This verse helps us identify corrupting influences or systems where intentional deceit and dishonest gain are pervasive.
- Integrity: It reinforces the call for believers to have "clean hands" and not allow corrupt practices to infiltrate their sphere of influence or profession.
- Justice: It highlights the biblical condemnation of bribery and the perversion of justice, reminding us to stand for what is righteous.