The Lord examines the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
The phrase “The Lord tests the righteous” shows that God knows the heart and the way of the one who relies on Him, and that at times, through trials, He reveals and strengthens that person’s faith. That testing is not meant to destroy. Just as fire purifies precious metal, so a trial can remove false displays from the righteous person’s life and make him more steadfast toward God. But when speaking about the wicked, the verse especially emphasizes a love for violence. Here it is not merely about an accidental mistake, but about the person who consciously chooses evil and finds pleasure in harming or oppressing others. The expression “His soul hates” shows God’s complete and holy opposition to such a way. He is not indifferent to violence and never considers it acceptable. The verse comforts the righteous that his trial is not outside God’s sight, and at the same time warns that love for evil sets a person against the Lord’s holy will.