Psalms 94

The psalmist calls on the God of vengeance to rise up against the wicked who crush His people, slay the widow, and murder the fatherless. He finds comfort in knowing that the LORD will not abandon His inheritance, and that God's discipline brings blessing while the wicked face certain destruction.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.	The LORD is a God Who avenges. O God Who avenges, shine forth.
2	Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.	Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3	LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?	How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?
4	How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?	They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5	They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.	They crush Your people, LORD; they oppress Your inheritance.
6	They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.	They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
7	Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.	They say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice."
8	Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?	Take notice, You senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
9	He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?	Does He who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?
10	He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?	Does He who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11	The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.	The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12	Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;	Blessed is the one You discipline, LORD, the one You teach from Your law;
13	That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.	you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14	For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.	For the LORD will not reject His people; He will never forsake His inheritance.
15	But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.	Judgment will again be founded on righteousness. All the upright in heart will follow it.
16	Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?	Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17	Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.	Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have lived in the silence of death.
18	When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.	When I said, "My foot slips," Your mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19	In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.	When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.
20	Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?	Can a corrupt throne be allied with You — a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
21	They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.	The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
22	But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.	But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23	And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.	He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them.