Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 18:26

"With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward." — Psalms 18:26 (ASV)

(26) Froward ... froward. — The use of this one word to translate two different Hebrew terms is largely correct, as they both come from roots primarily meaning to twist. Both terms are combined in Proverbs 8:8, froward (margin, twisted) or perverse, and both are contrasted with “righteousness.” Clearly, the metaphor can apply either to the character itself—described as “twisted round,” “awry,” or “perverse”—or to the line of conduct pursued, which is “bent,” “crooked,” or “wrong,” the opposite of “straight” or “right.”

The word “froward,” which is =from-ward (the opposite of “toward”), seems to carry more of this latter idea, though it may combine both—a disposition turned away from good. Therefore, the psalmist says, “God will turn away from those who turn away from Him.” This is a thought that, even with the Christian revelation, we must admit is true, for it still holds true that—

“He that shuts love out, in turn shall be
Shut out from love.”—TENNYSON.