Psalm 94

Psalm 94

THE JUST JUDGE

¹Lord, God of vengeance—

God of vengeance, shine!^ae

²Rise up, Judge of the earth;

repay the proud what they deserve.^af

³Lord, how long will the wicked—

how long will the wicked celebrate?^ag

⁴They pour out arrogant words;

all the evildoers boast.^ah

⁵Lord, they crush your people;

they oppress your heritage.^a

⁶They kill the widow and the resident alien

and murder the fatherless.^b

⁷They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it.

The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.”^c

⁸Pay attention, you stupid people!

Fools, when will you be wise?^d

⁹Can the one who shaped the ear not hear,

the one who formed the eye not see?^e

¹⁰The one who instructs nations,

the one who teaches mankind knowledge—

does he not discipline?^f

¹¹The Lord knows the thoughts of mankind;

they are futile.^g

¹²Lord, how happy is anyone you discipline

and teach from your law^h

¹³to give him relief from troubled times

until a pit is dug for the wicked.ⁱ

¹⁴The Lord will not leave his people

or abandon his heritage,^j

¹⁵for the administration of justice will again be righteous,

and all the upright in heart will follow^A it.^k

¹⁶Who stands up for me against the wicked?

Who takes a stand for me against evildoers?^l

¹⁷If the Lord had not been my helper,

I would soon rest in the silence of death.^m

¹⁸If I say, “My foot is slipping,”

your faithful love will support me, Lord.ⁿ

¹⁹When I am filled with cares,

your comfort brings me joy.^o

²⁰Can a corrupt throne be your ally,

a throne that makes evil laws?^p

²¹They band together against the life of the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.^q

²²But the Lord is my refuge;

my God is the rock of my protection.^r

²³He will pay them back for their sins

and destroy them for their evil.

The Lord our God will destroy them.^s