Psalms 94
1 A Psalm of David himself. The Fourth Sabbath. The Lord is the God of retribution. The God of retribution acts in order to deliver.
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
2 Lift yourself up, for you judge the earth. Repay the arrogant with retribution.
Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.
3 How long will sinners, O Lord, how long will sinners glory?
How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?
4 How long will they utter and speak iniquity? How long will all who work injustice speak out?
They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.
5 They have humiliated your people, O Lord, and they have harassed your inheritance.
They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage.
6 They have executed the widow and the new arrival, and they have slaughtered the orphan.
They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
7 And they have said, “The Lord will not see, nor will the God of Jacob understand.”
They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”
8 Understand, you senseless ones among the people. And be wise at last, you foolish ones.
Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who formed the ear, will he not hear? And he who forged the eye, does he not look closely?
He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?
10 He who chastises nations, he who teaches man knowledge, will he not rebuke?
He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of men: that these are in vain.
The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
12 Blessed is the man whom you will instruct, O Lord. And you will teach him from your law.
Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,
13 So may you soothe him from the evil days, until a pit may be dug for sinners.
to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not drive away his people, and he will not abandon his inheritance,
For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.
15 even until the time when justice is being converted into judgment, and when those who are close to justice are all those who are upright of heart.
Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will rise up with me against the malignant? Or who will stand with me against the workers of iniquity?
Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 Except that the Lord assisted me, my soul almost would have dwelt in Hell. (questioned)
Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.
18 If ever I said, “My foot is slipping,” then your mercy, O Lord, assisted me.
If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
19 According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, your consolations have given joy to my soul.
When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.
20 Does the seat of iniquity adhere to you, you who contrive hardship within a commandment?
Can a corrupt throne be Your ally— one devising mischief by decree?
21 They will hunt down the soul of the just, and they will condemn innocent blood.
They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
22 And the Lord has been made into a refuge for me, and my God into the assistance of my hope.
But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge.
23 And he will repay them their iniquity, and he will destroy them in their malice. The Lord our God will utterly destroy them.
He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.
