Psalms 94

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

The Lord is a God of vengeance! God of vengeance, shine out!

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

Stand up, judge of the earth, and pay back those who are proud what they deserve.

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

How long, Lord? How long will the wicked celebrate in triumph?

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

How long will you let them pour out their arrogant words? How long will these evil people go on boasting?

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

Lord, they crush your people; they oppress those you call your own.

6 murdering widows and strangers, slaying the fatherless?

They kill widows and foreigners; they murder orphans.

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

They say, “The Lord can't see what we're doing. Israel's God doesn't pay any attention to us.”

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

Take another look, you stupid people! Fools—when will you ever get the point?

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

Do you think the creator of the ear can't hear? Do you think the maker of the eye can't see?

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

Do you think that the one who punishes nations won't punish you too? Do you think that the one who teaches human beings knowledge doesn't know anything?

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

The Lord knows the thoughts of human beings—he knows they are pointless.

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

Those you discipline are happy, Lord; those you teach from your Law.

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

You give them peace in days of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap the wicked.

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

For the Lord will not give up on his people; he will not abandon his own.

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

Justice will once again be based on what is right; those who are sincere will support it.

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

Who came to my defense against the wicked; who stood up for me against those who do evil?

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

If the Lord hadn't helped me, I would have soon gone down into the silence of the grave.

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

I shouted out, “My foot's slipping!” and your trustworthy love, Lord, kept me from falling.

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

When my mind was full of worries, you comforted me and encouraged me.

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

Can unjust judges really be on your side, Lord, when their corrupt use of the law causes misery?

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

They work together to destroy good people; they condemn those who are innocent to death.

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

But the Lord protects me like a fortress; my God is the rock that keeps me safe.

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

He will turn the wickedness of evil people back upon them; he will destroy them because of their sins; the Lord our God will destroy them.