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Psalm 94
Lexham English Bible
Psalm 94
Lexham English Bible
A Prayer for Retribution against Oppressors
94 O Yahweh, God of vengeance,
God of vengeance, shine forth.
2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth.
Repay upon the proud what is their rightful due.
3 How long will the wicked, O Yahweh,
how long will the wicked exult?
4 They gush words[a] unrestrained.
All the evildoers boast.
5 They crush your people, O Yahweh;
they oppress your inheritance.
6 They kill widow and stranger,
and they murder orphans,
7 while[b] they say, “Yah[c] does not see,”
and “The God of Jacob does not pay attention.”
8 You pay attention, O brutes among the people.
And you fools, when you will show insight?
9 Will the one who planted the ear not hear?
Will the one who formed the eye not see?
10 Will the one who instructs nations not rebuke,
the one who teaches humankind knowledge?
11 Yahweh knows the thoughts of humankind,
that they are to no purpose.[d]
12 Blessed is the man, O Yah, whom you instruct
and teach from your law,
13 to give him rest from days of trouble,
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For Yahweh will not abandon his people,
nor forsake his inheritance.
15 For judgment will return to righteousness,[e]
and all the upright in heart will follow after it.
16 Who rose up for me against the wicked?
Who stood up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 If Yahweh had not been my help,
my soul would soon have dwelt in silence.
18 When I thought,[f] “My foot is slipping,”
your loyal love, O Yahweh, supported me.
19 When my troubled thoughts were many within me,[g]
your consolations cheered my soul.
20 Can there be allied with you a throne of destruction,
one that forms trouble based on statute?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous,
and declare the blameless guilty of blood.[h]
22 But Yahweh has become my high stronghold,
and my God has become my rock of refuge.
23 And he will repay on them their iniquity,
and by[i] their evil he will destroy them.
Yahweh our God will destroy them.
Footnotes
- Psalm 94:4 Literally “They gush, they speak,” which is probably a hendiadys
- Psalm 94:7 Hebrew “and”
- Psalm 94:7 A shortened form of “Yahweh”
- Psalm 94:11 Literally “they are a breath” or “a vanity”
- Psalm 94:15 That is, the court system will operate correctly
- Psalm 94:18 Hebrew “If/When I said,” that is, said to myself
- Psalm 94:19 Literally “in my inward parts”
- Psalm 94:21 Or “condemn innocent blood”
- Psalm 94:23 Or “in”
Psalm 94
New American Standard Bible
Psalm 94
New American Standard Bible
The Lord Implored to Avenge His People.
94 Lord, God of [a](A)vengeance,
God of [b]vengeance, [c](B)shine forth!
2 (C)Rise up, (D)Judge of the earth,
Pay back retribution (E)to the proud.
3 How long, Lord, shall the wicked—
How long shall the (F)wicked triumph?
4 They pour out words, they (G)speak arrogantly;
All who do injustice (H)boast.
5 They (I)crush Your people, Lord,
And (J)afflict Your inheritance.
6 They (K)kill the widow and the stranger
And murder the orphans.
7 (L)They have said, “[d]The Lord does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob perceive.”
8 Pay attention, you (M)stupid ones among the people;
And when will you understand, (N)foolish ones?
9 He who (O)planted the ear, [e]does He not hear?
Or He who formed the eye, [f]does He not see?
10 He who [g](P)disciplines the nations, will He not rebuke,
He who (Q)teaches mankind knowledge?
11 The Lord (R)knows human thoughts,
[h]That they are mere breath.
12 Blessed is the man whom (S)You discipline, [i]Lord,
And (T)whom You teach from Your Law,
13 So that You may grant him (U)relief from the (V)days of adversity,
Until (W)a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For (X)the Lord will not abandon His people,
Nor will He (Y)abandon His inheritance.
15 For [j](Z)judgment [k]will again be righteous,
And all the upright in heart [l]will follow it.
16 Who will (AA)stand up for me against evildoers?
Who will take his stand for me (AB)against those who do injustice?
17 If (AC)the Lord had not been my help,
My soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence.
18 If I should say, “(AD)My foot has slipped,”
Your faithfulness, Lord, will support me.
19 When my anxious thoughts [m]multiply within me,
Your (AE)comfort delights my soul.
20 Can a [n](AF)throne of destruction be allied with You,
One (AG)which devises [o]mischief by decree?
21 They (AH)band themselves together against the [p]life of the righteous
And (AI)condemn [q]the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord has been my (AJ)refuge,
And my God the (AK)rock of my refuge.
23 He has (AL)brought back their injustice upon them,
And He will [r](AM)destroy them in their evil;
The Lord our God will [s]destroy them.
Footnotes
- Psalm 94:1 Or avenging acts
- Psalm 94:1 Or avenging acts
- Psalm 94:1 Or has shone forth
- Psalm 94:7 Heb Yah
- Psalm 94:9 Or can
- Psalm 94:9 Or can
- Psalm 94:10 Or instructs
- Psalm 94:11 Or For
- Psalm 94:12 Heb Yah
- Psalm 94:15 I.e., administration of justice
- Psalm 94:15 Lit will return to righteousness
- Psalm 94:15 Lit will be after it
- Psalm 94:19 Or are many
- Psalm 94:20 Or tribunal
- Psalm 94:20 Or trouble, misfortune
- Psalm 94:21 Or soul
- Psalm 94:21 Lit innocent blood
- Psalm 94:23 Or silence
- Psalm 94:23 Or silence
Psalm 94
New International Version
Psalm 94
New International Version
Psalm 94
1 The Lord is a God who avenges.(A)
O God who avenges, shine forth.(B)
2 Rise up,(C) Judge(D) of the earth;
pay back(E) to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, Lord, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?(F)
4 They pour out arrogant(G) words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.(H)
5 They crush your people,(I) Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.(J)
6 They slay the widow(K) and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.(L)
7 They say, “The Lord does not see;(M)
the God of Jacob(N) takes no notice.”
8 Take notice, you senseless ones(O) among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
9 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.
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