<p class="poetry">Open for me the gates of the just king&#8217;s temple!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I will enter through them and give thanks to the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">I know, <sc>Lordsc>, that your regulations<n id="1" /> are just.p> <p class="poetry">You disciplined me because of your faithful devotion to me.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">May my tongue sing about your instructions,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for all your commands are just.p>

<p class="poetry">Then you will understand<n id="1" /> righteousness and justicep> <p class="poetry">and equity &#8211; every<n id="2" /> good<n id="3" /> way.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">by me princes rule,p> <p class="poetry">as well as nobles and<n id="1" /> all righteous judges.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">The faithful witness<n id="1" /> tells what is right,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">but a false witness<n id="3" /> speaks<n id="4" /> deceit.p>

<p class="poetry">The delight of kings<n id="1" /> is righteous counsel,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and they love the one who speaks<n id="3" /> uprightly.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Open your mouth, judge in righteousness,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and plead the cause<n id="2" /> of the poor and needy.p>

<p class="poetry">Justice will be like a belt around his waist,p> <p class="poetry">integrity will be like a belt around his hips.<n id="1" />p>

Melchizedek king of Salem<n id="1" /> brought out bread and wine. (Now he was the priest of the Most High God.)<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">For you defended my just cause;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">from your throne you pronounced a just decision.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">A prayer of David.p> <p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, consider my just cause!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Pay attention to my cry for help!p> <p class="poetry">Listen to the prayerp> <p class="poetry">I sincerely offer!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">I have told the great assembly<n id="1" /> about your justice.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Look! I spare no words!<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, you know this is true.p>

<p class="poetry">Appear in your majesty and be victorious!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Ride forth for the sake of what is right,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">on behalf of justice!<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts!<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">The praise you receive as far away as the ends of the earthp> <p class="poetry">is worthy of your reputation, O God.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You execute justice!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Then you will accept<n id="1" /> the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings;p> <p class="poetry">then bulls will be sacrificed<n id="2" /> on your altar.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Equity and justice are the foundation of your throne.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">For justice will prevail,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and all the morally upright<n id="2" /> will be vindicated.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> makes this promise on oath<n id="1" /> and will not revoke it:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;You are an eternal priest<n id="3" /> after the pattern of<n id="4" /> Melchizedek.&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">How tragic that the once-faithful cityp> <p class="poetry">has become a prostitute!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">She was once a center of<n id="2" /> justice,p> <p class="poetry">fairness resided in her,p> <p class="poetry">but now only murderers.<n id="3" />p>