The conditions for entering the Temple and worshiping there are given by the priests (verses 2-5b). These conditions are all moral and spiritual, not ritual and ceremonial; they have to do with character and conduct.
In translation it will often be necessary to indicate that verses 2-5 are the responses to the question asked in verse 1. This may be done by making the question element more explicit in verse 1; for example, “LORD, I inquire from you, who are the persons who can enter your Temple to worship you?” Verse 2 may then contain an explicit response marker; for example, “The LORD answers…” or “The answer is….”
(1) A worshiper must “walk perfectly” and “do justice.” Both phrases describe conduct. For walks as way of life, see comments on 1.1. In languages where walks indicates behavior, the translator is encouraged to keep the idiom if possible. However, in some languages another idiom can be used; for example, “The person who follows a straight path” or “The person who poles his canoe in clear waters.”
The word translated blamelessly is related to the word “perfection” in 9.6. New Jerusalem Bible has “whoever lives blamelessly.” To be “blameless” is to obey the commands of God in everything (see Anderson).
For comments on right see 4.1.
(2) The next qualification has to do with speech: speaks truth from his heart. The word translated truth (ʾemeth) comes from a root meaning “to be firm, reliable, trustworthy.” The phrase from his heart may be taken to indicate sincerity (so Good News Translation; see Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “speak the truth with all his heart”); but see New Jerusalem Bible “in his heart acknowledges the truth.” “Whose words are true” is said in some languages as “he who speaks with one mouth,” and in others, “he whose words are straight.” Many languages use expressions based on the heart; for example, “he who speaks from a white heart.” Good News Translation “true and sincere” is an attempt to include the element from his heart. Another way is “with his whole heart he speaks the truth” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “he insists on thinking and speaking only the truth” (see also Bible en français courant).
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .