Psalms 94
1 Yahweh, you are able to get revenge [on your enemies]. [So] show them that you are going to punish them!
The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongeth: the God of revenge hath acted freely.
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.
Lift up thyself, thou that judgest 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 shall sinners, O Lord: how long shall sinners glory?
4 They do evil things, and they boast about doing them; how long will they [be allowed to] continue doing that?
Shall they utter, and speak iniquity: shall all speak who work injustice?
5 Yahweh, [it is as though] those wicked people crush [us], your people; they (oppress/treat cruelly) those who belong to you [DOU].
Thy people, O Lord, they have brought low: and they have afflicted thy inheritance.
6 They murder widows and orphans and people from other countries who [think it is safe to] live in our land.
They have slain the widow and the stranger: and they have murdered 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].”
And they have said: The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob understand.
8 You evil people [who rule Israel], you are foolish and stupid; when will you become wise [RHQ]?
Understand, ye senseless among the people: and, you fools, be wise at last.
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 that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the eye, doth he not consider?
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 that chastiseth nations, shall he not rebuke: he that teacheth man 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 knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are vain.
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 whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord: and shalt teach him out of thy 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].
That thou mayst give him rest from the evil days: till a pit be 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 cast off his people: neither will he forsake his own inheritance.
15 [Some day] judges will decide matters fairly for people, and all honest/righteous people will be pleased about that.
Until justice be turned into judgment: and they that are near it are all the upright in heart.
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 shall rise up for me against the evildoers? or who shall stand with 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, my soul had almost dwelt in hell. (questioned)
18 I said/thought [to myself], “I am about to die,” but Yahweh, you held me up by faithfully loving me.
If I said: My foot is moved: thy mercy, O Lord, assisted me.
19 Whenever I am very worried, you comfort/encourage me and cause me to be happy.
According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy comforts have given joy to my soul.
20 You have nothing to do with wicked judges, who establish laws that allow people to do what is not legal.
Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee, who framest labour in commandment?
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 will hunt after the soul of the just, and will condemn innocent blood.
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 is my refuge: and my God the help of my hope.
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).
And he will render them their iniquity: and in their malice he will destroy them: the Lord our God will destroy them.
