2 Samuel 22:23-25

22:23 For I am aware of all his regulations, ¹ 

and I do not reject his rules. ² 

22:24 I was blameless before him;

I kept myself from sinning. ³ 

22:25 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; ⁴ 

he took notice of my blameless behavior. ⁵ 

[22:23]  ¹ tn Heb “for all his regulations are before me.” The term מִשְׁפָּטָו (mishpatav, “his regulations”) refers to God’s covenantal requirements, especially those which the king is responsible to follow (cf Deut 17:18-20). See also Pss 19:9 (cf vv. 7-8); 89:30; 147:20 (cf v. 19), as well as the numerous uses of the term in Ps 119.

[22:23]  ² tn Heb “and his rules, I do not turn aside from it.” Ps 18:22 reads, “and his rules I do not turn aside from me.” The prefixed verbal form is probably an imperfect; David here generalizes about his loyalty to God’s commands. The Lord’s “rules” are the stipulations of the covenant which the king was responsible to obey (see Ps 89:31; cf v. 30 and Deut 17:18-20).

[22:24]  ³ tn Heb “from my sin,” that is, from making it my own in any way. Leading a “blameless” life meant that the king would be loyal to God’s covenant, purge the government and society of evil and unjust officials, and reward loyalty to the Lord (see Ps 101).

[22:25]  ⁴ tn Heb “according to my righteousness.” See v. 21.

[22:25]  ⁵ tn Heb “according to my purity before his eyes.”