Psalms 94
1 Yahweh, you are able to get revenge [on your enemies]. [So] show them that you are going to punish them!
Yahweh, God who avenges, God who avenges, shine over us.
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, judge of the earth, give to the proud what they deserve.
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, Yahweh, how long will the wicked rejoice?
4 They do evil things, and they boast about doing them; how long will they [be allowed to] continue doing that?
They pour out their arrogant words; all those who do evil 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, Yahweh; they afflict the nation that belongs to you.
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 foreigner who lives in their country, and 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, “Yahweh will not see, the God of Jacob does not take notice of it.”
8 You evil people [who rule Israel], you are foolish and stupid; when will you become wise [RHQ]?
Understand, you stupid people! You fools, when will you ever learn?
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 made the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does 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 disciplines the nations, does he not correct? He is the one who gives knowledge to man.
11 Yahweh knows [everything] that people are thinking; he knows that what they think ([is useless/vanishes as quickly as]) smoke [MET].
Yahweh knows the thoughts of men, that they are vapor.
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 one whom you instruct, Yahweh, the one whom you 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].
You give him rest in times 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 Yahweh will not forsake his people or abandon his inheritance.
15 [Some day] judges will decide matters fairly for people, and all honest/righteous people will be pleased about that.
For 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 to defend me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the wicked?
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 Yahweh had been my help, I would soon be lying down in the place of silence.
18 I said/thought [to myself], “I am about to die,” but Yahweh, you held me up by faithfully loving me.
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” Your covenant faithfulness, Yahweh, held me up.
19 Whenever I am very worried, you comfort/encourage me and cause me to be happy.
When cares within me are many, your consolations make me happy.
20 You have nothing to do with wicked judges, who establish laws that allow people to do what is not legal.
Can a throne of destruction be allied with you, one who creates injustice by statute?
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 conspire together to take the life of the righteous and they 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 Yahweh has been my high tower, and my God has been the rock of my 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 on them their own iniquity and will cut them off in their own wickedness. Yahweh our God will cut them off.
