The phrase works of man
seems to gain further colour by the phrase at the end of the verse, the ways of the violent.
David declares that he did not respond to his hardships by exercising violence or injuries on his enemies who were provoking him to evil. Rather, he was restrained by the word of your lips,
the word of the Lord. He went the way of the blessed man in Psalm 1:1–6. Since God commanded not to murder, he did not look to solve the problem with Saul that way. Since God commanded the honouring of those in authority, he did not disrespect that authority. In short, by the word of the Lord’s lips, David avoided solving his problems or improving his situation by violence.1 He followed the will of the Lord.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.