1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.
<html><b>I shall sing of kindness and judgment</b> when You bestow kindness upon me, I will praise you [with the blessing:] “Blessed be He Who is good and does good,” and when You perform judgment upon me, I will sing, “Blessed be the true Judge.” In either case, to You, O Lord, I shall sing.</html>
<html><b>I shall concern myself</b> I shall direct my thoughts to the way of integrity. <b>When will it come to me</b> The straight path, to walk upon it, and I shall walk with the integrity of my heart even within my house, in private as well as in public.</html>
<html><b>wayward</b> Heb. סטים, an expression of (Num. 5:12): “whose wife strays (תשטה) from the right path,” to turn away from the road, destolemant in Old French, to swerve.</html>
<html><b>I know no evil</b> I love no [evil] (Another explanation: [Shem Ephraim]) I recognize no evil thing.</html>
<html><b>I cannot tolerate him</b> that he should be my friend, lest I learn from his deeds.</html>
<html><b>Betimes I cut down</b> Every day, I cut down the wicked of Israel little by little, those who are condemned to death.</html>