Psalms 94
1 The Lord is a God of vengeance! God of vengeance, shine out!
Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth.
2 Stand up, judge of the earth, and pay back those who are proud what they deserve.
Rise up, judge of the earth, pay back the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, Lord? How long will the wicked celebrate in triumph?
Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult,
4 How long will you let them pour out their arrogant words? How long will these evil people go on boasting?
with their blustering arrogant words, their braggart and wicked speech,
5 Lord, they crush your people; they oppress those you call your own.
crushing your people, Lord, and afflicting your heritage,
6 They kill widows and foreigners; they murder orphans.
murdering widows and strangers, slaying the fatherless?
7 They say, “The Lord can't see what we're doing. Israel's God doesn't pay any attention to us.”
They think that the Lord does not see, nor the God of Jacob regard it.
8 Take another look, you stupid people! Fools—when will you ever get the point?
Take heed, you dullest of people; when will you be wise, you fools?
9 Do you think the creator of the ear can't hear? Do you think the maker of the eye can't see?
Is he deaf, who shaped the ear? Is he blind, who fashioned the eye?
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?
Can he who trains nations not punish them he who teaches knowledge to people?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of human beings—he knows they are pointless.
The Lord knows the thoughts of people, that only a breath are they.
12 Those you discipline are happy, Lord; those you teach from your Law.
Happy are those whom you chasten, and teach out of your law,
13 You give them peace in days of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap the wicked.
keeping them calm in the day of misfortune, 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 leave his people, he will not forsake his inheritance.
15 Justice will once again be based on what is right; those who are sincere will support it.
For the righteous shall come to their rights, and all true-hearted people shall follow them.
16 Who came to my defense against the wicked; who stood up for me against those who do evil?
Who will rise up for me against those who do evil? Who will stand up for me against workers of wrong?
17 If the Lord hadn't helped me, I would have soon gone down into the silence of the grave.
Were it not for the help of the Lord, I would soon have gone to the silent grave.
18 I shouted out, “My foot's slipping!” and your trustworthy love, Lord, kept me from falling.
When I thought that my foot was slipping, your kindness, Lord, held me up.
19 When my mind was full of worries, you comforted me and encouraged me.
When with cares my heart was crowded, your comforts make me glad.
20 Can unjust judges really be on your side, Lord, when their corrupt use of the law causes misery?
Can corrupt justice be your ally, framing mischief by statute?
21 They work together to destroy good people; they condemn those who are innocent to death.
They assail the life of the righteous, and innocent blood condemn.
22 But the Lord protects me like a fortress; my God is the rock that keeps me safe.
But the Lord is my sure retreat, my God is the rock of my refuge.
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.
He will bring back their sin upon them, for their wickedness he will destroy them; the Lord our God will destroy them.
