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God Avenges His Own

94 God of vengeance,
    Lord God of vengeance,
        display your splendor![a]
Stand up, judge of the earth,
    and repay the proud.

How long will the wicked, Lord,
    how long will the wicked continue to triumph?
When they speak, they spew arrogance.
    Everyone who practices iniquity brags about it.[b]

Lord, they have crushed your people,
    afflicting your heritage.
The wicked[c] kill widows and foreigners;
    they murder orphans.
They say, “The Lord cannot see,
    and the God of Jacob will not notice.”

Pay attention, you dull ones among the crowds!
    You fools! Will you ever become wise?
The one who formed[d] the ear can hear, can he not?
    The one who made the eyes can see, can he not?
10 The one who disciplines nations can rebuke them, can he not?
    The one who teaches mankind can discern, can he not?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of human beings—
    that they are futile.

12 How blessed is the man whom you instruct, Lord,
    whom you teach from your Law,
13 keeping him calm when times are troubled
    until a pit has been dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not forsake his people;
    he will not abandon his heritage.
15 Righteousness will be restored with justice,
    and all the pure of heart will follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
    Who will stand for me against those who practice iniquity?
17 If the Lord had not been my helper,
    I would have quickly become silent.
18 When I say that my foot is shaking,
    your gracious love, Lord, will sustain me.
19 When my anxious inner thoughts become overwhelming,
    your comfort encourages me.

20 Will destructive national leaders,[e]
    who plan wicked things through misuse of the Law,
        be allied with you?
21 They gather together against the righteous,
    condemning the innocent to death.

22 But the Lord is my stronghold,
    and my God, the rock, is my refuge.
23 He will repay them for their sin;
    he will annihilate them because of their evil.
        The Lord our God will annihilate them.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 94:1 The Heb. lacks your splendor
  2. Psalm 94:4 The Heb. lacks about it
  3. Psalm 94:6 Lit. They
  4. Psalm 94:9 Lit. planted
  5. Psalm 94:20 Lit. destructive throne

Psalm 94

The Lord is a God who avenges.(A)
    O God who avenges, shine forth.(B)
Rise up,(C) Judge(D) of the earth;
    pay back(E) to the proud what they deserve.
How long, Lord, will the wicked,
    how long will the wicked be jubilant?(F)

They pour out arrogant(G) words;
    all the evildoers are full of boasting.(H)
They crush your people,(I) Lord;
    they oppress your inheritance.(J)
They slay the widow(K) and the foreigner;
    they murder the fatherless.(L)
They say, “The Lord does not see;(M)
    the God of Jacob(N) takes no notice.”

Take notice, you senseless ones(O) among the people;
    you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
    Does he who formed the eye not see?(P)
10 Does he who disciplines(Q) nations not punish?
    Does he who teaches(R) mankind lack knowledge?
11 The Lord knows all human plans;(S)
    he knows that they are futile.(T)

12 Blessed is the one you discipline,(U) Lord,
    the one you teach(V) from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble,(W)
    till a pit(X) is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not reject his people;(Y)
    he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,(Z)
    and all the upright in heart(AA) will follow it.

16 Who will rise up(AB) for me against the wicked?
    Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?(AC)
17 Unless the Lord had given me help,(AD)
    I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.(AE)
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,(AF)
    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19 When anxiety(AG) was great within me,
    your consolation(AH) brought me joy.

20 Can a corrupt throne(AI) be allied with you—
    a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?(AJ)
21 The wicked band together(AK) against the righteous
    and condemn the innocent(AL) to death.(AM)
22 But the Lord has become my fortress,
    and my God the rock(AN) in whom I take refuge.(AO)
23 He will repay(AP) them for their sins
    and destroy(AQ) them for their wickedness;
    the Lord our God will destroy them.