Psalm 94

The Just Judge

¹Lord, God of vengeance —

God of vengeance, shine! ^a

²Rise up, Judge of the earth;

repay the proud what they deserve. ^b

³Lord, how long will the wicked —

how long will the wicked celebrate? ^c

⁴They pour out arrogant words;

all the evildoers boast. ^d

⁵Lord, they crush your people;

they oppress your heritage. ^e

⁶They kill the widow and the resident alien

and murder the fatherless. ^f

⁷They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it.

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

⁸Pay attention, you stupid people!

Fools, when will you be wise? ^h

⁹Can the one who shaped the ear not hear,

the one who formed the eye not see? ⁱ

¹⁰The one who instructs nations,

the one who teaches mankind knowledge —

does he not discipline? ^j

¹¹The Lord knows the thoughts of mankind;

they are futile. ^k

¹²Lord, how happy is anyone you discipline

and teach from your law ^l

¹³to give him relief from troubled times

until a pit is dug for the wicked. ^m

¹⁴The Lord will not leave his people

or abandon his heritage, ⁿ

¹⁵for the administration of justice will again be righteous,

and all the upright in heart will follow ^o it. ^p

¹⁶Who stands up for me against the wicked?

Who takes a stand for me against evildoers? ^q

¹⁷If the Lord had not been my helper,

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

¹⁸If I say, “My foot is slipping,”

your faithful love will support me, Lord. ^s

¹⁹When I am filled with cares,

your comfort brings me joy. ^t

²⁰Can a corrupt throne be your ally,

a throne that makes evil laws? ^u

²¹They band together against the life of the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death. ^v

²²But the Lord is my refuge;

my God is the rock of my protection. ^w

²³He will pay them back for their sins

and destroy them for their evil.

The Lord our God will destroy them. ^x