Psalms 94

1 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.

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs; O God, to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself.

2 Be you exalted, you that judge the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Lift up yourself, you judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

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

LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

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

How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

5 They have afflicted your people, O Lord, and hurt your heritage.

They break in pieces your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.

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

They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.

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

Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

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

Understand, all of you brutish among the people: and all of you fools, when will all of you be wise?

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

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

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

He that chastises the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teaches man knowledge, shall not he know?

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

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

12 Blessed is the man whoever you shall chasten, O Lord, and shall teach him out of your law;

Blessed is the man whom you chasten, O LORD, and teach him out of your law;

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

That you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be dug for the wicked.

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

For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

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

But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

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

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

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

Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

18 If I said, My foot has been moved;

When I said, My foot slips; your mercy, O LORD, held me up.

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

In the multitude of my thoughts within me your comforts delight my soul.

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

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you, which frames mischief by a law?

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

They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

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

But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

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

And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.