Psalms 94
1 Yahweh, you are able to get revenge [on your enemies]. [So] show them that you are going to punish them!
LORD, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out.
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, you judge of the earth. Pay back 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!
LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph?
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 the evildoers 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 break your people in pieces, LORD, and afflict 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 alien, and 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 will not see, neither will Jacob’s God consider.”
8 You evil people [who rule Israel], you are foolish and stupid; when will you become wise [RHQ]?
Consider, you senseless among the people; you 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 implanted the ear, won’t he hear? He who formed the eye, won’t he 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, won’t he punish? He who teaches man knows.
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 whom you discipline, LORD, and teach 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].
that you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the 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 won’t reject 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.
For judgment will return to righteousness. All the upright in heart shall 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 up for me against the evildoers?
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 help, my soul would have soon lived in 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 loving kindness, LORD, held me up.
19 Whenever I am very worried, you comfort/encourage me and cause me to be happy.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me, your comforts delight 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 wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief 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 gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the 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 has been my high tower, my God, 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 has brought on them their own iniquity, and will cut them off in their own wickedness. The LORD, our God, will cut them off.
