They are forever firm, and should be faithfully and properly carried out. ¹ 

The Lord is merciful and fair; our God is compassionate.

This is the Lord’s gate – the godly enter through it.

צ (Tsade) You are just, O Lord, and your judgments are fair.

who leave ¹  the upright ²  paths to walk on the dark ³  ways,

Kings reign by means of me, and potentates ¹  decree ²  righteousness;

by me princes rule, as well as nobles and ¹  all righteous judges. ² 

The delight of kings ¹  is righteous counsel, ²  and they love the one who speaks ³  uprightly. ⁴ 

The righteous person ¹  behaves in integrity; ²  blessed are his children after him. ³ 

Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, ¹  and plead the cause ²  of the poor and needy.

Listen attentively, ¹  my God, and hear! Open your eyes and look on our desolated ruins ²  and the city called by your name. ³  For it is not because of our own righteous deeds that we are praying to you, ⁴  but because your compassion is abundant.

Citizens of Zion, ¹  rejoice! Be glad because of what the Lord your God has done! ²  For he has given to you the early rains ³  as vindication. He has sent ⁴  to you the rains – both the early and the late rains ⁵  as formerly.

So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ¹ 

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Do not judge according to external appearance, ¹  but judge with proper ²  judgment.”

just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one,

May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice! May they continually say, ¹  “May the Lord be praised, ²  for he wants his servant to be secure.” ³ 

My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you, ¹  how Balaam son of Beor responded to him. Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal, so you might acknowledge that the Lord has treated you fairly.” ² 

And the gift is not like the one who sinned. ¹  For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, ²  led to condemnation, but ³  the gracious gift from the many failures ⁴  led to justification.

The evildoer must continue to do evil, ¹  and the one who is morally filthy ²  must continue to be filthy. The ³  one who is righteous must continue to act righteously, and the one who is holy must continue to be holy.”