Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Therefore - because they are unstable as "the chaff which the wind driveth away" (Psalms 1:4), and because God is about to have a judicial sifting (Ecclesiastes 12:14), wherein the fruit (Psalms 1:3) shall abide, and the chaff be driven away.
Shall not stand - literally, rise up: the Septuagint, 'rise again.' Thus the ultimate meaning designed by the Spirit will be, The ungodly shall not rise up to partake of the first resurrection with the righteous (1 Corinthians 15:23; Philippians 3:11; Luke 20:35; Revelation 20:5-6). If the English version be retained, "not stand in judgment" does not contradict Romans 14:10, "We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ" (cf. Acts 24:15); but "stand" - i:e., be justified-is opposed to falling - i:e., being condemned (cf. Psalms 18:38; Psalms 20:8; Malachi 3:2, "Who shall stand when He appeareth?" Revelation 6:17). The parallel clause, "in the congregation of the righteous" (the full number of the elect gathered together unto Christ at His coming, 2 Thessalonians 2:1; cf. Psalms 50:5), favours the former view, whereby "stand" or 'rise in the judgment' refers to the elect rising and sharing with Christ in His reign in judgment or justice. (Psalms 9:7-8; Psalms 96:13): not the last "judgment," but the millennial reign; as "judge" is often used for righteous rule (Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5).
In the congregation of the righteous - "the congregation of the righteous" in its true ideal, from which every ungodly element is removed, about to be realized at Christ's second coming (Malachi 4:1-3; Matthew 13:41). The Israelite congregation, "holy" to the Lord, was the type (Psalms 111:1; Numbers 16:3; Ezekiel 13:9). Korah and his company, destroyed "from among the congregation" (Numbers 16:33), typify the sinners who "shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous."