Psalm 94

Psalm 94

1 O LORD, the God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!2 Arise, O judge of the earth.
Give the proud what they deserve.3 How long, O LORD?
How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat?4 How long will they speak with arrogance?
How long will these evil people boast?5 They crush your people, LORD,
hurting those you claim as your own.6 They kill widows and foreigners
and murder orphans.7 “The LORD isn’t looking,” they say,
“and besides, the God of Israelt doesn’t care.”8 Think again, you fools!
When will you finally catch on?9 Is he deaf—the one who made your ears?
Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?10 He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you?
He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing?11 The LORD knows people’s thoughts;
he knows they are worthless!12 Joyful are those you discipline, LORD,
those you teach with your instructions.13 You give them relief from troubled times
until a pit is dug to capture the wicked.14 The LORD will not reject his people;
he will not abandon his special possession.15 Judgment will again be founded on justice,
and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it.16 Who will protect me from the wicked?
Who will stand up for me against evildoers?17 Unless the LORD had helped me,
I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.18 I cried out, “I am slipping!”
but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.19 When doubts filled my mind,
your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—
leaders whose decrees permit injustice?21 They gang up against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.22 But the LORD is my fortress;
my God is the mighty rock where I hide.23 God will turn the sins of evil people back on them.
He will destroy them for their sins.
The LORD our God will destroy them.

PSALMS 94

The [Lord] Punishes //the Guilty

1 [Lord] God, you punish
the guilty.
Show what you are like
and punish them now.

2 You judge the earth.
Come and help us!
Pay back those proud people
for what they have done.

3 How long will the wicked
celebrate and be glad?

4 All of those cruel people
strut and boast,

5 and they crush and wound
your chosen nation, [Lord].

6 They murder widows,
foreigners, and orphans.

7 Then they say,
“The [Lord] God of Jacob
doesn't see or know.”

8 Can't you fools see?
Won't you ever learn?

9 God gave us ears and eyes!
Can't he hear and see?

10 God instructs the nations
and gives knowledge to us all.
Won't he also correct us?

11  t The [Lord] knows how useless
our plans really are.

12 Our [Lord], you bless everyone
that you instruct and teach
by using your Law.

13 You give them rest
from their troubles,
until a pit can be dug
for the wicked.

14 You won't turn your back
on your chosen nation.

15 Justice and fairness
will go hand in hand,
and all who do right
will follow along.

16 Who will stand up for me
against those cruel people?

17 If you had not helped me, [Lord],
I would soon have gone
to the land of silence.t

18 When I felt my feet slipping,
you came with your love
and kept me steady.

19 And when I was burdened
with worries,
you comforted me
and made me feel secure.

20 But you are opposed
to dishonest lawmakers

21 who gang up to murder
innocent victims.

22 You, [Lord] God, are my fortress,
that mighty rockt
where I am safe.

23 You will pay back my enemies,
and you will wipe them out
for the evil they did.