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Psalm 94

O Yahweh, El of vengeance,
    O El of vengeance, appear!
Arise, O Shophet of the earth.
    Give arrogant people what they deserve.
How long, O Yahweh, will wicked people triumph?
    How long?

They ramble.
    They speak arrogantly.
        All troublemakers brag about themselves.
They crush your people, O Yahweh.
    They make those who belong to you suffer.
        They kill widows and foreigners, and they murder orphans.
            They say, “Yah doesn’t see it.
                The Elohim of Jacob doesn’t even pay attention to it.”

Pay attention, you stupid people!
    When will you become wise, you fools?
Elohim created ears.
    Do you think he can’t hear?
    He formed eyes.
        Do you think he can’t see?
10 He disciplines nations.
    Do you think he can’t punish?
    He teaches people.
        Do you think he doesn’t know anything?
11 Yahweh knows that people’s thoughts are pointless.

12 O Yah, blessed is the person
    whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings.
13 You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble
    while a pit is dug to trap wicked people.

14 Yahweh will never desert his people
    or abandon those who belong to him.
15 The decisions of judges will again become fair,
    and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice.[a]

16 Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
    Who will stand by my side against troublemakers?
17 If Yahweh had not come to help me,
    my soul would have quickly fallen silent in death.

18 When I said, “My feet are slipping,”
    your mercy, O Yahweh, continued to hold me up.
19 When I worried about many things,
    your assuring words soothed my soul.

20 Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things
    able to be your partners?
21 They join forces to take the lives of righteous people.
    They condemn innocent people to death.
22 Yahweh has become my stronghold.
    My Elohim has become my rock of refuge.
23 He has turned their own wickedness against them.
    He will destroy them because of their sins.
        Yahweh our Elohim will destroy them.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 94:15 English equivalent of this verse difficult.

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.