Psalms 94

1 O LORD, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, 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 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render to the proud [their] desert.

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

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

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

4 They prate, they speak arrogantly: all the workers of iniquity boast themselves.

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

5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.

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

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

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

7 And they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob consider.

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

8 Consider, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

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

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

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

10 He that chastiseth the nations, shall not he correct, [even] he that teacheth man knowledge?

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

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

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

12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest out of thy law;

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

13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged 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 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 For judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall 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 evil-doers? who will stand up 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 help, my soul had soon dwelt in silence.

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

18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.

If I said, My foot has been moved;

19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight 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 Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by statute?

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

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

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

22 But the LORD hath been my high tower; and my God the rock of my refuge.

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

23 And he hath brought upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own evil; the LORD our God shall cut them off.

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