Psalms 94
1 Yahweh, you are able to get revenge [on your enemies]. [So] show them that you are going to punish them!
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
2 You are the one who judges all [people on] the earth; [so] arise, and give/punish the proud [leaders of our] people like they deserve.
Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.
3 Yahweh, how long will those wicked [people] be glad/happy? It is not right that [RHQ] they continue being glad!
How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?
4 They do evil things, and they boast about doing them; how long will they [be allowed to] continue doing that?
They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.
5 Yahweh, [it is as though] those wicked people crush [us], your people; they (oppress/treat cruelly) those who belong to you [DOU].
They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage.
6 They murder widows and orphans and people from other countries who [think it is safe to] live in our land.
They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
7 Those wicked people say, “Yahweh does not see anything; [so] the God whom those Israelis [worship] does not see [the evil things that we do].”
They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”
8 You evil people [who rule Israel], you are foolish and stupid; when will you become wise [RHQ]?
Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
9 God made our ears; so [do you think that] he cannot hear [what you say] [RHQ]? He created our eyes; so do you think that he cannot see [the evil things that you do] [RHQ]?
He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?
10 He also scolds [the leaders of other] nations; so do you think that he will not punish [you] [RHQ]? He is the one who knows everything; [so why do you think that he does not know what you do] [RHQ]?
He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?
11 Yahweh knows [everything] that people are thinking; he knows that what they think ([is useless/vanishes as quickly as]) smoke [MET].
The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
12 Yahweh, you are pleased with people who [want you to] discipline/correct them, those who [want you to] teach them your laws.
Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,
13 When those people have had troubles, you cause those troubles to cease, and some day [it will be as though] you will dig pits for wicked people, and they will fall into those pits [and die].
to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 Yahweh will not abandon his people; he will not desert like that those who belong to him [DOU].
For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.
15 [Some day] judges will decide matters fairly for people, and all honest/righteous people will be pleased about that.
Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 But when wicked [people] ([oppressed me/treated me cruelly]), (who defended me?/no one defended me.) [RHQ] No one stood up to testify for me against those evil people [RHQ].
Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 If Yahweh had not helped me [at that time], [I would have been executed], [and] my soul/spirit would have gone to the place where [dead people] say nothing.
Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.
18 I said/thought [to myself], “I am about to die,” but Yahweh, you held me up by faithfully loving me.
If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
19 Whenever I am very worried, you comfort/encourage me and cause me to be happy.
When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.
20 You have nothing to do with wicked judges, who establish laws that allow people to do what is not legal.
Can a corrupt throne be Your ally— one devising mischief by decree?
21 They plan to get rid of righteous [people], and they declare that (innocent people/people who have not done what is wrong) must be executed.
They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But Yahweh (has become [like] my fortress/protects me) [MET]; my God is [like a huge] rock under which I am protected/safe [MET].
But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge.
23 He will punish those wicked leaders in return for the wicked things that they have done, and will get rid of them for the sins that they have committed; [yes], Yahweh our God will (wipe them out/destroy them completely).
He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.
