Psalms 94
1 The Lord is a God of vengeance! God of vengeance, shine out!
The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongeth: the God of revenge hath acted freely.
2 Stand up, judge of the earth, and pay back those who are proud what they deserve.
Lift up thyself, thou that judgest the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3 How long, Lord? How long will the wicked celebrate in triumph?
How long shall sinners, O Lord: how long shall sinners glory?
4 How long will you let them pour out their arrogant words? How long will these evil people go on boasting?
Shall they utter, and speak iniquity: shall all speak who work injustice?
5 Lord, they crush your people; they oppress those you call your own.
Thy people, O Lord, they have brought low: and they have afflicted thy inheritance.
6 They kill widows and foreigners; they murder orphans.
They have slain the widow and the stranger: and they have murdered the fatherless.
7 They say, “The Lord can't see what we're doing. Israel's God doesn't pay any attention to us.”
And they have said: The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob understand.
8 Take another look, you stupid people! Fools—when will you ever get the point?
Understand, ye senseless among the people: and, you fools, be wise at last.
9 Do you think the creator of the ear can't hear? Do you think the maker of the eye can't see?
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the eye, doth he not consider?
10 Do you think that the one who punishes nations won't punish you too? Do you think that the one who teaches human beings knowledge doesn't know anything?
He that chastiseth nations, shall he not rebuke: he that teacheth man knowledge?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of human beings—he knows they are pointless.
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are vain.
12 Those you discipline are happy, Lord; those you teach from your Law.
Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord: and shalt teach him out of thy law.
13 You give them peace in days of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap the wicked.
That thou mayst give him rest from the evil days: till a pit be dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not give up on his people; he will not abandon his own.
For the Lord will not cast off his people: neither will he forsake his own inheritance.
15 Justice will once again be based on what is right; those who are sincere will support it.
Until justice be turned into judgment: and they that are near it are all the upright in heart.
16 Who came to my defense against the wicked; who stood up for me against those who do evil?
Who shall rise up for me against the evildoers? or who shall stand with me against the workers of iniquity?
17 If the Lord hadn't helped me, I would have soon gone down into the silence of the grave.
Unless the Lord had been my helper, my soul had almost dwelt in hell. (questioned)
18 I shouted out, “My foot's slipping!” and your trustworthy love, Lord, kept me from falling.
If I said: My foot is moved: thy mercy, O Lord, assisted me.
19 When my mind was full of worries, you comforted me and encouraged me.
According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy comforts have given joy to my soul.
20 Can unjust judges really be on your side, Lord, when their corrupt use of the law causes misery?
Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee, who framest labour in commandment?
21 They work together to destroy good people; they condemn those who are innocent to death.
They will hunt after the soul of the just, and will condemn innocent blood.
22 But the Lord protects me like a fortress; my God is the rock that keeps me safe.
But the Lord is my refuge: and my God the help of my hope.
23 He will turn the wickedness of evil people back upon them; he will destroy them because of their sins; the Lord our God will destroy them.
And he will render them their iniquity: and in their malice he will destroy them: the Lord our God will destroy them.
