Psalms 94

1 Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth.

A Psalm of David himself. The Fourth Sabbath. The Lord is the God of retribution. The God of retribution acts in order to deliver.

2 Rise up, judge of the earth, pay back the proud what they deserve.

Lift yourself up, for you judge the earth. Repay the arrogant with retribution.

3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult,

How long will sinners, O Lord, how long will sinners glory?

4 with their blustering arrogant words, their braggart and wicked speech,

How long will they utter and speak iniquity? How long will all who work injustice speak out?

5 crushing your people, Lord, and afflicting your heritage,

They have humiliated your people, O Lord, and they have harassed your inheritance.

6 murdering widows and strangers, slaying the fatherless?

They have executed the widow and the new arrival, and they have slaughtered the orphan.

7 They think that the Lord does not see, nor the God of Jacob regard it.

And they have said, “The Lord will not see, nor will the God of Jacob understand.”

8 Take heed, you dullest of people; when will you be wise, you fools?

Understand, you senseless ones among the people. And be wise at last, you foolish ones.

9 Is he deaf, who shaped the ear? Is he blind, who fashioned the eye?

He who formed the ear, will he not hear? And he who forged the eye, does he not look closely?

10 Can he who trains nations not punish them he who teaches knowledge to people?

He who chastises nations, he who teaches man knowledge, will he not rebuke?

11 The Lord knows the thoughts of people, that only a breath are they.

The Lord knows the thoughts of men: that these are in vain.

12 Happy are those whom you chasten, and teach out of your law,

Blessed is the man whom you will instruct, O Lord. And you will teach him from your law.

13 keeping them calm in the day of misfortune, till a pit be dug for the wicked.

So may you soothe him from the evil days, until a pit may be dug for sinners.

14 For the Lord will not leave his people, he will not forsake his inheritance.

For the Lord will not drive away his people, and he will not abandon his inheritance,

15 For the righteous shall come to their rights, and all true-hearted people shall follow them.

even until the time when justice is being converted into judgment, and when those who are close to justice are all those who are upright of heart.

16 Who will rise up for me against those who do evil? Who will stand up for me against workers of wrong?

Who will rise up with me against the malignant? Or who will stand with me against the workers of iniquity?

17 Were it not for the help of the Lord, I would soon have gone to the silent grave.

Except that the Lord assisted me, my soul almost would have dwelt in Hell. (questioned)

18 When I thought that my foot was slipping, your kindness, Lord, held me up.

If ever I said, “My foot is slipping,” then your mercy, O Lord, assisted me.

19 When with cares my heart was crowded, your comforts make me glad.

According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, your consolations have given joy to my soul.

20 Can corrupt justice be your ally, framing mischief by statute?

Does the seat of iniquity adhere to you, you who contrive hardship within a commandment?

21 They assail the life of the righteous, and innocent blood condemn.

They will hunt down the soul of the just, and they will condemn innocent blood.

22 But the Lord is my sure retreat, my God is the rock of my refuge.

And the Lord has been made into a refuge for me, and my God into the assistance of my hope.

23 He will bring back their sin upon them, for their wickedness he will destroy them; the Lord our God will destroy them.

And he will repay them their iniquity, and he will destroy them in their malice. The Lord our God will utterly destroy them.