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The Lord Punishes the Guilty

Lord God, you punish
    the guilty.
Show what you are like
    and punish them now.
You judge the earth.
    Come and help us!
Pay back those proud people
    for what they have done.
How long will the wicked
    celebrate and be glad?

All of those cruel people
    strut and boast,
and they crush and wound
    your chosen nation, Lord.
They murder widows,
    foreigners, and orphans.
Then they say,
“The Lord God of Jacob
    doesn't see or know.”

Can't you fools see?
    Won't you ever learn?
God gave us ears and eyes!
    Can't he hear and see?
10 God instructs the nations
and gives knowledge to us all.
    Won't he also correct us?
11 (A) The Lord knows how useless
    our plans really are.

12 Our Lord, you bless everyone
that you instruct and teach
    by using your Law.
13 You give them rest
    from their troubles,
until a pit can be dug
    for the wicked.
14 You won't turn your back
    on your chosen nation.
15 Justice and fairness
    will go hand in hand,
and all who do right
    will follow along.

16 Who will stand up for me
    against those cruel people?
17 If you had not helped me, Lord,
I would soon have gone
    to the land of silence.[a]
18 When I felt my feet slipping,
you came with your love
    and kept me steady.
19 And when I was burdened
    with worries,
you comforted me
    and made me feel secure.
20 But you are opposed
    to dishonest lawmakers
21 who gang up to murder
    innocent victims.

22 You, Lord God, are my fortress,
that mighty rock[b]
    where I am safe.
23 You will pay back my enemies,
and you will wipe them out
    for the evil they did.

Footnotes

  1. 94.17 land of silence: The grave or the world of the dead.
  2. 94.22 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

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.