Psalms 94

1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.

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 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

Be thou exalted, thou that judgest the earth: render a reward to the proud.

3 How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?

How long shall sinners, O Lord, how long shall sinners boast?

4 They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.

They will utter and speak unrighteousness; all the workers of iniquity will speak [so].

5 They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage.

They have afflicted thy people, O Lord, and hurt thine heritage.

6 They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.

They have slain the widow and fatherless, and murdered the stranger.

7 They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”

And they said, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob understand.

8 Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?

Understand now, ye simple among the people; and ye fools, at length be wise.

9 He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

He that planted the ear, does he not hear? or he that formed the eye, does not he perceive?

10 He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?

He that chastises the heathen, shall not he punish, [even] he that teaches man knowledge?

11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain.

12 Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,

Blessed is the man whomsoever thou shalt chasten, O Lord, and shalt teach him out of thy law;

13 to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.

to give him rest from evil days, until a pit be digged for the sinful one.

14 For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.

For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance;

15 Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

until righteousness return to judgment, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. (Pause)

16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?

Who will rise up for me against the transgressors? or who will stand up with me against the workers of iniquity?

17 Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had almost sojourned in Hades.

18 If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.

If I said, My foot has been moved;

19 When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.

thy mercy, O Lord, helped me. O Lord, according to the multitude of my griefs within my heart, thy consolation have soothed my soul.

20 Can a corrupt throne be Your ally— one devising mischief by decree?

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frames mischief by an ordinance?

21 They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

They will hunt for the soul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.

22 But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge.

But the Lord was my refuge; and my God the helper of my hope.

23 He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.

And he will recompense to them their iniquity and their wickedness: the Lord our God shall utterly destroy them.