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.

But the statement it was credited to him ¹  was not written only for Abraham’s ²  sake,

Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, ¹  would you really slaughter an innocent nation? ² 

You must pursue justice alone ¹  so that you may live and inherit the land the Lord your God is giving you.

You are righteous with regard to all that has happened to us, for you have acted faithfully. ¹  It is we who have been in the wrong!

Although I am innocent, ¹  my mouth ²  would condemn me; ³  although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse. ⁴ 

I am ¹  a laughingstock ²  to my friends, ³  I, who called on God and whom he answered ⁴  – a righteous and blameless ⁵  man is a laughingstock!

A prayer of David. Lord, consider my just cause! ²  Pay attention to my cry for help! Listen to the prayer I sincerely offer! 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 

No one is concerned about justice; ¹  no one sets forth his case truthfully. They depend on false words ²  and tell lies; they conceive of oppression ³  and give birth to sin.

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

He taught what was true; ¹  sinful words were not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned many people away from sin.

For if Abraham was declared righteous ¹  by the works of the law, he has something to boast about – but not before God.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, ¹  forgiving ²  us our sins and cleansing ³  us from all unrighteousness.

They said, “Cornelius the centurion, ¹  a righteous ²  and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, ³  was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message ⁴  from you.”

David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people. ¹ 

Call to mind now: ¹  Who, ²  being innocent, ever perished? ³  And where were upright people ⁴  ever destroyed? ⁵ 

For you have said, ‘My teaching ¹  is flawless, and I am pure in your sight.’

I will never ¹  declare that you three ²  are in the right; until I die, I will not set aside my integrity!