Verse 23 is the continuation of 22, and clarifies that it is not the drunkard, but the socially powerful who are under condemnation. Using the reversals again, these powerful men are those who justify their adoption of wicked ways because of the rewards of the world that they receive by so doing. Their espousal of the ways of the world, their embracing of the wicked is causing the unrighteousness of Israel. When the poet suggests that they "take away the righteousness of the righteous" he means that the powerful are preventing those who would be righteous from becoming so because of the prevalence of their ideas, and their actions in exalting themselves over the people of Israel.