Psalm 94 | New International Reader’s Version

1 The LORD is a God who punishes. Since you are the one who punishes, come and show your anger. 2 Judge of the earth, rise up. Pay back proud people for what they have done. 3 LORD, how long will those who are evil be glad? How long will they be full of joy? 4 Proud words pour out of their mouths. All those who do evil are always boasting. 5 LORD, they crush your people. They treat badly those who belong to you. 6 They kill outsiders. They kill widows. They murder children whose fathers have died. 7 They say, ‘The LORD doesn’t see what’s happening. The God of Jacob doesn’t pay any attention to it.’ 8 You who aren’t wise, pay attention. You foolish people, when will you become wise? 9 Does he who made the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? 10 Does he who corrects nations not punish? Does he who teaches human beings not know anything? 11 The LORD knows what people think. He knows that their thoughts don’t amount to anything. 12 LORD, blessed is the person you correct. Blessed is the person you teach from your law. 13 You give them rest from times of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap sinners. 14 The LORD won’t say no to his people. He will never desert those who belong to him. 15 He will again judge people in keeping with what is right. All those who have honest hearts will follow the right way. 16 Who will rise up for me against sinful people? Who will stand up for me against those who do evil? 17 Suppose the LORD had not helped me. Then I would soon have been lying quietly in the grave. 18 I said, ‘My foot is slipping.’ But LORD, your faithful love kept me from falling. 19 I was very worried. But your comfort brought me joy. 20 Can you have anything to do with rulers who aren’t fair? Can those who make laws that cause suffering be friends of yours? 21 Evil people join together against those who do what is right. They sentence to death those who aren’t guilty of doing anything wrong. 22 But the LORD has become like a fort to me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. 23 He will pay them back for their sins. He will destroy them for their evil acts. The LORD our God will destroy them.