John Gill Commentary Psalms 26:5

"I hate the assembly of evil-doers, And will not sit with the wicked." — Psalms 26:5 (ASV)

I have hated the congregation of evildoers
That do harm to the persons, characters, or properties of men; and who meet together in bodies, to consult and form schemes to do mischief, and have their assemblies to encourage each other in it; these, their works and actions, the psalmist hated, though not their persons; and showed his displicency at them, and dislike and disapprobation of them, by absenting from them; see (Jeremiah 15:17) ;

and will not sit with the wicked ; ungodly and unrighteous men, sons of Belial; for with such what fellowship and concord can there be? (2 Corinthians 6:14 2 Corinthians 6:15) ; the word ^F24 signifies restless and uneasy persons, who cannot rest unless they do mischief; are like the troubled sea, continually casting up mire and dirt, (Isaiah 57:20Isaiah 57:21) ; now, by all this the psalmist means not that good men should have no manner of conversation with the men of the world: for then, as the apostle says, we must needs go out of the world, (1 Corinthians 5:9 1 Corinthians 5:10) .

Conversation in civil things, in matters of trade and business, is lawful; though all unnecessary conversation in things of civil life is to be shunned; no more should be had than what natural relation and the business of life require; but all conversation in things criminal is to be avoided; company is not to be kept with them, so as to join them in anything sinful; this is to harden them in their evil ways, and it brings into danger and into disgrace: a man is known and is judged of by the company that he keeps; and evil communications corrupt good manners.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F24: (evr) "significat inquietum esse, ceu patet ex", Isa. xlviii. 22. Gejerus