May the evil deeds of the wicked ¹  come to an end! ²  But make the innocent ³  secure, ⁴  O righteous God, you who examine ⁵  inner thoughts and motives! ⁶ 

The commands to fear the Lord are right ¹  and endure forever. ²  The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just. ³ 

Do not hold against me ¹  the sins of my youth ²  or my rebellious acts! Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord! ³ 

For the Lord promotes ¹  justice, and never abandons ²  his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, ³  but the children ⁴  of evil men are wiped out. ⁵ 

Then ¹  observers ²  will say, “Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded! ³  Yes indeed, there is a God who judges ⁴  in the earth!”

The godly will rejoice in the Lord and take shelter in him. All the morally upright ¹  will boast. ² 

Let foreigners ¹  rejoice and celebrate! For you execute justice among the nations, and govern the people living on earth. ²  (Selah)

I will walk in ¹  the way of integrity. When will you come to me? I will conduct my business with integrity in the midst of my palace. ² 

Teach me to do what pleases you, ¹  for you are my God. May your kind presence ²  lead me ³  into a level land. ⁴ 

He will not grow dim or be crushed ¹  before establishing justice on the earth; the coastlands ²  will wait in anticipation for his decrees.” ³ 

When a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.

Suppose I say to the wicked, ‘You must certainly die,’ but he turns from his sin and does what is just and right.

None of the sins he has committed will be counted ¹  against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.

When the wicked turns from his sin and does what is just and right, he will live because of it.

But you must return ¹  to your God, by maintaining love and justice, and by waiting ²  for your God to return to you. ³ 

He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until he brings justice to victory.

Jesus ¹  also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down ²  on everyone else.

Righteous Father, even if the world does not know you, I know you, and these men ¹  know that you sent me.

But because of your stubbornness ¹  and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! ² 

For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. ¹