1O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.2Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.3LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?4How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?5They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.6They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.7Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it .8Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?9He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?10He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know ?11The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;13That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.14For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.15But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.16Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?17Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.18When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.19In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.22But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.23And 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.
Psalm 94
New International Reader’s Version
1The LORD is a God who punishes. Since you are the one who punishes, come and show your anger.2Judge of the earth, rise up. Pay back proud people for what they have done.3LORD, how long will those who are evil be glad? How long will they be full of joy?4Proud words pour out of their mouths. All those who do evil are always boasting.5LORD, they crush your people. They treat badly those who belong to you.6They kill outsiders. They kill widows. They murder children whose fathers have died.7They say, ‘The LORD doesn’t see what’s happening. The God of Jacob doesn’t pay any attention to it.’8You who aren’t wise, pay attention. You foolish people, when will you become wise?9Does he who made the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?10Does he who corrects nations not punish? Does he who teaches human beings not know anything?11The LORD knows what people think. He knows that their thoughts don’t amount to anything.12LORD, blessed is the person you correct. Blessed is the person you teach from your law.13You give them rest from times of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap sinners.14The LORD won’t say no to his people. He will never desert those who belong to him.15He will again judge people in keeping with what is right. All those who have honest hearts will follow the right way.16Who will rise up for me against sinful people? Who will stand up for me against those who do evil?17Suppose the LORD had not helped me. Then I would soon have been lying quietly in the grave.18I said, ‘My foot is slipping.’ But LORD, your faithful love kept me from falling.19I was very worried. But your comfort brought me joy.20Can you have anything to do with rulers who aren’t fair? Can those who make laws that cause suffering be friends of yours?21Evil people join together against those who do what is right. They sentence to death those who aren’t guilty of doing anything wrong.22But the LORD has become like a fort to me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety.23He will pay them back for their sins. He will destroy them for their evil acts. The LORD our God will destroy them.