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Psalm 18:26
With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
24Therefore the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.
26With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
27For you will save the afflicted people, but the arrogant eyes you will bring down.
28For you will light my lamp, LORD. My God will light up my darkness.
Notice
The turn from “pure” to “shrewd” gives David’s praise a searching edge: God’s dealings take account of the character of those before him.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What does the word “shrewd” suggest about God’s response to crookedness?
Write on thisWhere might the contrast between purity and crookedness bear on a choice before you?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.Both connect purity with encountering God: the pure see God in Matthew, and God shows himself pure in the psalm.
Proverbs 3:34Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.Both distinguish God’s dealings with people according to their character, contrasting purity with crookedness and humility with mockery.
2 Samuel 22:27With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.Both use the same words to describe God showing himself pure to the pure and shrewd to the crooked.
Job 5:13He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.God’s shrewdness toward the crooked shares a thread with Job’s description of God catching the wise in their own craftiness.
Leviticus 26:23–24“‘If by these things you won’t be turned back to me, but will walk contrary to me,Both address people’s stance toward God, with crookedness in the psalm and refusal to turn back to God in Leviticus.
James 2:13For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.Both describe God responding to human conduct: crookedness meets shrewdness in the psalm, and mercilessness meets judgment in James.
Proverbs 3:32For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.Both contrast God’s relationship with upright people and his response to those described as crooked or perverse.
Leviticus 26:24then I will also walk contrary to you; and I will strike you, even I, seven times for your sins.Both describe God opposing wrongdoing, through shrewdness toward the crooked in the psalm and punishment for sins in Leviticus.
Leviticus 26:27–28“‘If you in spite of this won’t listen to me, but walk contrary to me,Both speak of resistance to God, described as crookedness in the psalm and refusing to listen in Leviticus.
Psalm 109:17–19Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.Both describe a response corresponding to someone’s conduct: the crooked encounter shrewdness, and the person who loves cursing receives it.
Romans 2:4–6Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?Both concern God’s dealings with people, though Romans stresses goodness leading to repentance while the psalm contrasts responses to purity and crookedness.
Romans 2:9oppression, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.Both describe adverse consequences for wrongdoing: the crooked encounter God’s shrewdness, and those who do evil face oppression and anguish.
Where this verse fits
Temptation. injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Crookedness cannot outwit God. His shrewdness toward the crooked belongs to the same Lord who shows himself pure to the pure.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 18:26. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).