< Psalms 94 >
1 A Psalm of David for the fourth [day] of the week. The Lord is a God of vengeance; the God of vengeance has declared himself.
O LORD, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, shine forth.
2 Be you exalted, you that judge the earth: render a reward to the proud.
Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render to the proud [their] desert.
3 How long shall sinners, O Lord, how long shall sinners boast?
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4 They will utter and speak unrighteousness; all the workers of iniquity will speak [so].
They prate, they speak arrogantly: all the workers of iniquity boast themselves.
5 They have afflicted your people, O Lord, and hurt your heritage.
They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
6 They have slain the widow and fatherless, and murdered the stranger.
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 And they said, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob understand.
And they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob consider.
8 Understand now, you simple amongst the people; and you fools, at length be wise.
Consider, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9 He that planted the ear, does he not hear? or he that formed the eye, does not he perceive?
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastises the heathen, shall not he punish, [even] he that teaches man knowledge?
He that chastiseth the nations, shall not he correct, [even] he that teacheth man knowledge?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain.
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whoever you shall chasten, O Lord, and shall teach him out of your law;
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest out of thy law;
13 to give him rest from evil days, until a pit be digged for the sinful one.
That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance;
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15 until righteousness return to judgement, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. (Pause)
For judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
16 Who will rise up for me against the transgressors? or who will stand up with me against the workers of iniquity?
Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers? who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had almost sojourned in Hades.
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had soon dwelt in silence.
18 If I said, My foot has been moved;
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19 your mercy, O Lord, helped me. O Lord, according to the multitude of my griefs within my heart, your consolation have soothed my soul.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you, which frames mischief by an ordinance?
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by statute?
21 They will hunt for the soul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
22 But the Lord was my refuge; and my God the helper of my hope.
But the LORD hath been my high tower; and my God the rock of my refuge.
23 And he will recompense to them their iniquity and their wickedness: the Lord our God shall utterly destroy them.
And he hath brought upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own evil; the LORD our God shall cut them off.