Psalms 94
1 Yahweh, you are able to get revenge [on your enemies]. [So] show them that you are going to punish them!
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.
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.
Be you exalted, you that judge 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 boast?
4 They do evil things, and they boast about doing them; how long will they [be allowed to] continue doing that?
They will utter and speak unrighteousness; all the workers of iniquity will speak [so].
5 Yahweh, [it is as though] those wicked people crush [us], your people; they (oppress/treat cruelly) those who belong to you [DOU].
They have afflicted your people, O Lord, and hurt your heritage.
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 fatherless, and murdered the stranger.
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 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 now, you simple among the people; and you fools, at length 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 that planted the ear, does he not hear? or he that formed the eye, does not he perceive?
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 chastises the heathen, shall not he punish, [even] he that teaches 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 knows 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 whoever you shall chasten, O Lord, and shall teach him out of 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 give him rest from evil days, until a pit be digged for the sinful one.
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 inheritance;
15 [Some day] judges will decide matters fairly for people, and all honest/righteous people will be pleased about that.
until righteousness return to judgment, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. (Pause)
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 transgressors? or who will stand up 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.
If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had almost sojourned in Hades.
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 has been moved;
19 Whenever I am very worried, you comfort/encourage me and cause me to be happy.
your mercy, O Lord, helped me. O Lord, according to the multitude of my griefs within my heart, your consolation have soothed my soul.
20 You have nothing to do with wicked judges, who establish laws that allow people to do what is not legal.
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you, which frames mischief by an ordinance?
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 for the soul of the righteous, and 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 was my refuge; and my God the helper 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 recompense to them their iniquity and their wickedness: the Lord our God shall utterly destroy them.
