What does Psalms Chapter 26 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

The Latin incipit is Dominus illuminatio. The separate heading concerns David's faith and hope. The inscription places the psalm before he was anointed without specifying a royal anointing. He names the Lord light, salvation and life's protector and asks whom he should fear. He says approaching wicked enemies seeking his flesh were weakened and fell. If armies should encamp or battle arise, his heart shall not fear and he will be confident; these are conditional threats.

He asked and will seek dwelling in the Lord's house all his days, seeing His delight and visiting His temple. God has hidden and protected him in His tabernacle in evil days, exalted him on a rock and lifted his head above enemies. He has gone round and offered a sacrifice of jubilation and will sing and recite a psalm.

He asks hearing and mercy, says his face sought God's face and will still seek it, and asks not to be forsaken or despised in wrath. His father and mother have left him, but the Lord has taken him up; the verse is not conditional. He asks a law and right path because of enemies, and not to be delivered to troubling people, for unjust witnesses rose and iniquity lied to itself. He believes he will see God's good things in the living land and exhorts expectation, manful action, courage and waiting for the Lord. The psalm does not report spiritual invulnerability or a particular army's imminent attack.