Psalms 94

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 murdering widows and strangers, slaying the fatherless?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 people, that only a breath are they.

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

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

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

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

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 leave his people, he will not forsake his inheritance.

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

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

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

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 for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.