Psalms 89:16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted. 

Our righteousness is made possible through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His righteousness, we shall be exalted. 

Self-righteousness, righteousness based on our performance or our good works, has a way of perverting exaltation. When we can say we did this good work or that good work, we tend to pat ourselves on the back and exalt ourselves over everyone who is not doing a good work. However, when we realize our best performance is like filthy rags in the eyes of God (Isaiah 64:6), we’ll learn to operate through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  

We’re not exalted based on our righteous performances or our good works. We’re exalted through the only righteousness God accepts; the righteousness of Jesus Christ.