Psalms 94
1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs; O God, to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself.
The Lord is a God of vengeance! God of vengeance, shine out!
2 Lift up yourself, you judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
Stand up, judge of the earth, and pay back those who are proud what they deserve.
3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
How long, Lord? How long will the wicked celebrate in triumph?
4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
How long will you let them pour out their arrogant words? How long will these evil people go on boasting?
5 They break in pieces your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.
Lord, they crush your people; they oppress those you call your own.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
They kill widows and foreigners; they murder orphans.
7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
They say, “The Lord can't see what we're doing. Israel's God doesn't pay any attention to us.”
8 Understand, you brutish among the people: and you fools, when will you be wise?
Take another look, you stupid people! Fools—when will you ever get the point?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
Do you think the creator of the ear can't hear? Do you think the maker of the eye can't see?
10 He that chastises the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teaches man knowledge, shall not he know?
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?
11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
The Lord knows the thoughts of human beings—he knows they are pointless.
12 Blessed is the man whom you chasten, O LORD, and teach him out of your law;
Those you discipline are happy, Lord; those you teach from your Law.
13 That you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be dig for the wicked.
You give them peace in days of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
For the Lord will not give up on his people; he will not abandon his own.
15 But judgment shall return to righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
Justice will once again be based on what is right; those who are sincere will support it.
16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Who came to my defense against the wicked; who stood up for me against those who do evil?
17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelled in silence.
If the Lord hadn't helped me, I would have soon gone down into the silence of the grave.
18 When I said, My foot slips; your mercy, O LORD, held me up.
I shouted out, “My foot's slipping!” and your trustworthy love, Lord, kept me from falling.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me your comforts delight my soul.
When my mind was full of worries, you comforted me and encouraged me.
20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you, which frames mischief by a law?
Can unjust judges really be on your side, Lord, when their corrupt use of the law causes misery?
21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
They work together to destroy good people; they condemn those who are innocent to death.
22 But the LORD is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
But the Lord protects me like a fortress; my God is the rock that keeps me safe.
23 And he shall bring on them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yes, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
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.
