Old Testament

Psalm 94
Psalm 94
The Lord Rules the Wicked
A Call for Vengeance
1O Lord, God of vengeance,
God of vengeance, shine forth.
2Rise up, O Judge of the earth.
Repay the proud with what they deserve.
3How long will the wicked, O Lord,
how long will the wicked celebrate?
The Deeds of the Wicked
4They gush. They speak arrogantly.
All the evildoers brag about themselves.
5They crush your people, O Lord.
They oppress the people that belong to you.
6They kill the widow and the alien.
They murder the fatherless.
7Then they say, “The Lord[] does not see.
The God of Jacob does not understand.”
8Understand, you brutes among the people.
You fools, when will you become wise?
Relief for the Righteous
9The one who planted the ear—will he not hear?
The one who formed the eye—will he not observe?
10The one who disciplines nations—will he not rebuke them?
He is the one who teaches mankind knowledge.
11The Lord knows the thoughts of mankind.
He knows that they are just vapor.
12How blessed is the person whom you discipline, O Lord,
whom you teach from your law.
13You grant him rest in days of trouble,
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14For the Lord will not desert his people,
and he will never forsake those who are his own.
15Then judgment will again be based on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will pursue it.
16Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17Unless the Lord had been my helper,
my soul would soon have dwelt in silence.
18When I said, “My foot has slipped,”
your mercy, Lord, upheld me.
19When my worries within me were many,
your comfort brought joy to my soul.
20Can a destructive throne be allied with you,
one that creates injustice by its decrees?
21They band together against the life of the righteous,
and they condemn innocent blood.
22But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God is the rock where I take refuge.
23Then he will repay them for their iniquity,
and he will destroy them for their wickedness.
The Lord our God will destroy them.

Footnotes

  • 94:7 The short form of the divine name, Yah, is used instead of the long form, Yahweh. Also in verse 12.