But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and dealt wonderfully with] the godly man [the one of honorable character and moral courage—the one who does right].
The Lord hears and responds when I call to Him.

The Lord has made Himself known;
He executes judgment;
The wicked are trapped by the work of their own hands. Higgaion (meditation) Selah.

You have seen it, for You have noted mischief and vexation (irritation) to take it into Your hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.

How long must I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart day after day?
How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?

“He trusted and committed himself to the Lord, let Him save him.
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship;
All those who go down to the dust (the dead) will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false,
Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.

His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness,
And his descendants will inherit the land.

For he flatters and deceives himself in his own eyes
Thinking that his sinfulness will not be discovered and hated [by God].

He plans wrongdoing on his bed;
He sets himself on a path that is not good;
He does not reject or despise evil.

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].

I have seen a wicked, violent man [with great power]
Spreading and flaunting himself like a cedar in its native soil,

God, in her palaces,
Has made Himself known as a stronghold.

None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—

Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous—
And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—

“Look, [this is] the man who would not make God his strength [his stronghold and fortress],
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
Taking refuge in his wealth.”

For it is not an enemy who taunts me—
Then I could bear it;
Nor is it one who has hated me who insolently exalts himself against me—
Then I could hide from him.

But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him [honoring the true God, acknowledging His authority and majesty] will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

O God, You are awesome and profoundly majestic from Your sanctuary;
The God of Israel gives strength and power to His people.
Blessed be God!

But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her,”
And the Most High Himself will establish her.

What man can live and not see death?
Can he rescue his soul from the [powerful] hand of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead)? Selah.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty and splendor;
The Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength;
the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved.

That You may grant him [power to calm himself and find] peace in the days of adversity,
Until the pit is dug for the wicked and ungodly.

And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented [rescinding their sentence] according to the greatness of His lovingkindness [when they cried out to Him],

He clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
And it seeped into his inner self like water
And like [anointing] oil into his bones.

Let it be to him as a robe with which he covers himself,
And as a sash with which he is constantly bound.

Who humbles Himself to regard
The heavens and the earth?

Beth.
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

“His enemies I will clothe with shame,
But upon himself shall his crown shine.”

For the Lord has chosen [the descendants of] Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His own special treasure and possession.

And do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no man living is righteous or justified.