Psalms 94

1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.

Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth.

2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

Rise up, judge of the earth, pay back the proud what they deserve.

3 How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?

Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult,

4 They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.

with their blustering arrogant words, their braggart and wicked speech,

5 They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage.

crushing your people, Lord, and afflicting your heritage,

6 They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.

murdering widows and strangers, slaying the fatherless?

7 They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”

They think that the Lord does not see, nor the God of Jacob regard it.

8 Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?

Take heed, you dullest of people; when will you be wise, you fools?

9 He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

Is he deaf, who shaped the ear? Is he blind, who fashioned the eye?

10 He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?

Can he who trains nations not punish them he who teaches knowledge to people?

11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

The Lord knows the thoughts of people, that only a breath are they.

12 Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,

Happy are those whom you chasten, and teach out of your law,

13 to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.

keeping them calm in the day of misfortune, till a pit be dug for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.

For the Lord will not leave his people, he will not forsake his inheritance.

15 Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

For the righteous shall come to their rights, and all true-hearted people shall follow them.

16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?

Who will rise up for me against those who do evil? Who will stand up for me against workers of wrong?

17 Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

Were it not for the help of the Lord, I would soon have gone to the silent grave.

18 If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.

When I thought that my foot was slipping, your kindness, Lord, held me up.

19 When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.

When with cares my heart was crowded, your comforts make me glad.

20 Can a corrupt throne be Your ally— one devising mischief by decree?

Can corrupt justice be your ally, framing mischief by statute?

21 They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

They assail the life of the righteous, and innocent blood condemn.

22 But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge.

But the Lord is my sure retreat, my God is the rock of my refuge.

23 He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.

He will bring back their sin upon them, for their wickedness he will destroy them; the Lord our God will destroy them.