Psalms 11:7

For Jehovah is righteous; he loveth righteous deeds;

The upright shall behold his face.

The character of Jehovah is the ground of the judgement which has been described; and the reward of the upright is contrasted with the punishment of the wicked.

Righteous deedsmay denote the manifestations of Jehovah's righteousness (Judges 5:11; 1 Samuel 12:7), as well as the righteous acts of men. (Isaiah 33:15); but the context points to the latter meaning here.

The A.V. rendering of the second line gives a good sense: He beholds the upright with favour. The P.B.V. follows the ancient versions in its rendering, -will behold the thing that is just." But usage and parallel passages are decisive in favour of the rendering of R.V. given above. The wicked are banished and destroyed; but the upright are admitted to the presence of Jehovah, as trusted courtiers to the presence of their sovereign (cp. Psalms 5:4-5; Psalms 15:1; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 140:13); they gaze upon that Face which is the source of light and joy and salvation (Psalms 4:6; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 44:3). It is one of the -golden sayings" of the Psalter, -fulfilled" in the revelation of the Gospel. See Matthew 5:8; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 22:4.