King James Bible
"With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;"
God reflects back the character qualities people demonstrate—those who show mercy experience God's mercy in return. This reciprocal principle appears throughout Scripture, emphasizing that divine responses often mirror human conduct. The parallel structure reinforces the principle: God reveals His integrity to those who act with integrity. David, having just recounted his deliverance, illustrates how God's nature adapts to meet people according to their own moral stance.