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.
The Lord is a God of vengeance! God of vengeance, shine out!
2 Be you exalted, you that judge 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 How long shall sinners, O Lord, how long shall sinners boast?
How long, Lord? How long will the wicked celebrate in triumph?
4 They will utter and speak unrighteousness; all the workers of iniquity will speak [so].
How long will you let them pour out their arrogant words? How long will these evil people go on boasting?
5 They have afflicted your people, O Lord, and hurt your heritage.
Lord, they crush your people; they oppress those you call your own.
6 They have slain the widow and fatherless, and murdered the stranger.
They kill widows and foreigners; they murder orphans.
7 And they said, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob understand.
They say, “The Lord can't see what we're doing. Israel's God doesn't pay any attention to us.”
8 Understand now, you simple among the people; and you fools, at length be wise.
Take another look, you stupid people! Fools—when will you ever get the point?
9 He that planted the ear, does he not hear? or he that formed the eye, does not he perceive?
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 punish, [even] he that teaches man knowledge?
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 men, that they are vain.
The Lord knows the thoughts of human beings—he knows they are pointless.
12 Blessed is the man whoever you shall chasten, O Lord, and shall teach him out of your law;
Those you discipline are happy, Lord; those you teach from your Law.
13 to give him rest from evil days, until a pit be digged for the sinful one.
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 until righteousness return to judgment, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. (Pause)
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 transgressors? or who will stand up with 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 If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had almost sojourned in Hades.
If the Lord hadn't helped me, I would have soon gone down into the silence of the grave.
18 If I said, My foot has been moved;
I shouted out, “My foot's slipping!” and your trustworthy love, Lord, kept me from falling.
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.
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 an ordinance?
Can unjust judges really be on your side, Lord, when their corrupt use of the law causes misery?
21 They will hunt for the soul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.
They work together to destroy good people; they condemn those who are innocent to death.
22 But the Lord was my refuge; and my God the helper of my hope.
But the Lord protects me like a fortress; my God is the rock that keeps me safe.
23 And he will recompense to them their iniquity and their wickedness: the Lord our God shall utterly destroy them.
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.
