'Right' in the Bible

He said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It will be all right.”

Then they said one to another, “We are not doing the right thing. This is a day of good news, yet we are keeping silent. If we wait until the morning light, some punishment [for not reporting this now] will come on us. So now come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

When Jehu went on from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with yours?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said “If it is, give me your hand.” He gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot.

The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab in accordance with everything that was in My heart, your sons (descendants) shall sit on Israel’s throne to the fourth generation.”

And the guards stood, each man with weapons in his hand, from the right side to the left side of the temple area, by the altar [in the courtyard] and by the temple [proper], all around the king.

Jehoash did right in the sight of the Lord all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the house of the Lord; and the priests who guarded the door put in the chest all the money that was brought [by the people] into the house of the Lord.

He did right in the sight of the Lord, though not like David his father (ancestor). He acted in accordance with everything that his father Joash had done.

He did right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with all that his father Amaziah had done.

He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that his father Uzziah had done.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, as his father (ancestor) David had done.

The Israelites ascribed things to the Lord their God which were not true. They built for themselves high places [of worship] in all their towns, from [the lonely] lookout tower to the [populous] fortified city.

Hezekiah did right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that David his father (ancestor) had done.

He did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father (ancestor) David, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Heman’s [tribal] brother Asaph stood at his right hand: Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,

They were armed with bows, and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones and shoot arrows from the bow; they were Saul’s relatives from [the tribe of] Benjamin.

Then all the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

He erected the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right, the other on the left, and named the one on the right Jachin (may He establish) and the one on the left Boaz (in Him is strength).

He also made ten [portable] basins in which to wash, and he put five on the right (south) side and five on the left (north). They would rinse things for the burnt offering in them, but the Sea was for the priests to wash in.

And he made ten golden lampstands just as directed and set them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left.

He made also ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left side, and he made a hundred [ceremonial] basins of gold.

then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his conduct on his own head, and providing justice to the righteous by giving to him in accordance with his righteousness (innocence).

Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.

So Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host (army) of heaven standing on His right and on His left.

He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord.

He stationed all the people around the king [as guards for him], every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side to the left side of the house (temple), by the altar and by the house.

Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest [his uncle].

He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not wholeheartedly.

He did right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that his father Amaziah had done.

He did right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that his father Uzziah had done; however, he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people continued behaving corruptly.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do right in the sight of the Lord, as his father (forefather) David had done.

He did right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that David his father (forefather) had done.

This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah; and he did what was good, right, and true before the Lord his God.

He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father (forefather) and did not turn aside either to the right or to the left.

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions.

I answered them, “The God of heaven [has appointed us for His purpose and] will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Ezra the scribe stood on a [large] wooden platform which they had constructed for this purpose. And beside him [on the platform] stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left.

“Then You came down on Mount Sinai,And spoke with them from heaven;And You gave them fair ordinances and true laws,Good statutes and commandments.

Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I appointed two large thanksgiving choirs, the first one proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate.

Then she said, “If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter is proper in the king’s view and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote [in order] to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.

“Remember now, who, being innocent, ever perished?Or where [and in what circumstances] were those upright and in right standing with God destroyed?

‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He?Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He?

“Yes, I know it is true.But how can a mortal man be right before God?

For though I were righteous, I could not answer.I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

“Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty;Though I am blameless, He would denounce me as guilty.

“What is man, that he should be pure and clean,Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous and just?

“Oh, that a man would mediate and plead with God [for me]Just as a man [mediates and pleads] with his neighbor and friend.

“Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his ways,And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

“Is it any pleasure or joy to the Almighty that you are righteous?Or is it of benefit to Him that you make your ways perfect?

“There the righteous and upright could reason with Him;So I would be acquitted forever by my Judge.

To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him;He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.

“As God lives, who has taken away my right and denied me justice,And the Almighty, who has caused bitterness and grief for my soul,

“Far be it from me that I should admit you are right [in your accusations against me];Until I die, I will not remove my integrity from me.

“I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go;My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

“On my right the [rabble] brood rises;They push my feet away, and they build up their ways of destruction against me [like an advancing army].

“For if my land has cried out against me,And its furrows weep together;

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes [and could not be persuaded otherwise by them].

“If there is an angel as a mediator for him,One out of a thousand,To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God],

“He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him,So that he looks at His face with joy;For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].

“He sings out to other men,‘I have sinned and perverted that which was right,And it was not proper for me!

“Let us choose for ourselves that which is right;Let us know among ourselves what is good.

“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous [and innocent],But God has taken away my right;

Although I am right, I am accounted a liar.My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

“Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern?And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?

“Do you think this is according to [your] justice?Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?

“He does not prolong the life of the wicked,But gives the afflicted their justice.

“He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous [those in right standing with Him];But with kings upon the throneHe has seated them forever, and they are exalted.

“The Almighty—we cannot find Him;He is exalted in powerAnd He will not do violence to [nor disregard] justice and abundant righteousness.

“[If you can do all this, Job, proving your divine power] then I [God] will also praise you and acknowledgeThat your own right hand can save you.

It came about that after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him [and his prayer] so that I may not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.”

Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment,Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have freed me when I was hemmed in and relieved me when I was in distress;Be gracious to me and hear [and respond to] my prayer.

Offer righteous sacrifices;Trust [confidently] in the Lord.

O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my enemies;Make Your way straight (direct, right) before me.

For You, O Lord, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You];You surround him with favor as with a shield.

The Lord judges the peoples;Judge me, O Lord, and grant me justice according to my righteousness and according to the integrity within me.

For You have maintained my right and my cause;You have sat on the throne judging righteously.

And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You,For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.

The [spiritually ignorant] fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”They are corrupt, they have committed repulsive and unspeakable deeds;There is no one who does good.

They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;There is no one who does good, not even one.

There they tremble with great fear,For God is with the [consistently] righteous generation.

I have set the Lord continually before me;Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy;In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Hear the just (righteous) cause, O Lord; listen to my loud [piercing] cry;Listen to my prayer, that comes from guileless lips.

Wondrously show Your [marvelous and amazing] lovingkindness,O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right handFrom those who rise up against them.

As for me, I shall see Your face in righteousness;I will be [fully] satisfied when I awake [to find myself] seeing Your likeness.

Therefore the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness (moral character, spiritual integrity),According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,And Your right hand upholds and sustains me;Your gentleness [Your gracious response when I pray] makes me great.

The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart;The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;He will answer him from His holy heavenWith the saving strength of His right hand.

Your hand will reach out and defeat all your enemies;Your right hand will reach those who hate you.

He refreshes and restores my soul (life);He leads me in the paths of righteousnessfor His name’s sake.

Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed;Those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed).

He leads the humble in justice,And He teaches the humble His way.

In whose hands is a wicked scheme,And whose right hand is full of bribes.

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous [who actively seek right standing with Him];Shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones;Praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart—those with moral integrity and godly character].

For the word of the Lord is right;And all His work is done in faithfulness.

The young lions lack [food] and grow hungry,But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.