This is another “Psalm of David” that says all good people are protected and all bad people are punished. There are no exceptions (except for Dave himself, apparently — but, hey, whatever).
As far as bad people go, the psalm specifically mentions lying and being deceitful. Its advice to children: “Keep your tongue from evil, / And your lips from speaking deceit,” and other such tips.
Again, this psalm doesn’t guarantee us a reward in a cloudless heaven or punishment in a fiery hell; its promises and threats are in present tense, not in some rapturous, judgment-filled future.
I still want to know, then, why so many of the self-described righteous folks among us continue to worship — yes, worship — a lying, deceitful, immoral man. And why isn’t he being punished?
Likewise, are psalms like this one — and there are many — the literal, inerrant, divinely-inspired “Word of God”? Or not? Hmm. Maybe the self-righteous are just fresh out of give-a-damns now.
One more thing about punishment: This psalmist claims, “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, / To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” Preach it, brother. Let it be so.