The evil person is ensnared ¹  by the transgression of his speech, ²  but the righteous person escapes out of trouble. ³ 

An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous, and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked. ¹ 

For ¹  there is not one truly ²  righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.

Tell the innocent ¹  it will go well with them, ²  for they will be rewarded for what they have done. ³ 

and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless ¹  men, ² 

Here is ¹  another ²  enigma ³  that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, ⁴  and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. ⁵  I said, “This also is an enigma.”

The godly ¹  perish, but no one cares. ²  Honest people disappear, ³  when no one ⁴  minds ⁵  that the godly ⁶  disappear ⁷  because of ⁸  evil. ⁹ 

Consequently, ¹  just as condemnation ²  for all people ³  came ⁴  through one transgression, ⁵  so too through the one righteous act ⁶  came righteousness leading to life ⁷  for all people.

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, ¹  so that he would become ²  the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, ³  that they too could have righteousness credited to them.

Understand, therefore, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is about to give you this good land as a possession, for you are a stubborn ¹  people!

Now take your positions, so I may confront you ¹  before the Lord regarding all the Lord’s just actions toward you and your ancestors. ² 

He does not take his eyes ¹  off the righteous; but with kings on the throne he seats the righteous ²  and exalts them forever. ³ 

I will tell about your justice, and all day long proclaim your salvation, ¹  though I cannot fathom its full extent. ² 

Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above; ¹  you have done great things. ²  O God, who can compare to you? ³ 

All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice, for those who want to harm me ¹  will be embarrassed and ashamed. ² 

I thought to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment ¹  for every deed.

I will make justice the measuring line, fairness the plumb line; hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge, ¹  the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.

This is what the Lord says, “Promote ¹  justice! Do what is right! For I am ready to deliver you; I am ready to vindicate you openly. ² 

He wears his desire for justice ¹  like body armor, ²  and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. ³  He puts on the garments of vengeance ⁴  and wears zeal like a robe.

None of the sins he has committed will be held ¹  against him; because of the righteousness he has done, he will live.