1 PSALM 94 The L Implored to Avenge His People. O LGod, You to whom vengeance belongs,O God, You to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth [in judgment]!
2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;Give to the proud a fitting compensation.
3 O L, how long will the wicked,How long will the wicked rejoice in triumph?
4 They pour outwords,speaking arrogant things;All who do evil boast proudly.
5 They crush Your people, O L,And afflictandabuse Your heritage.
6 Widows, resident aliens, and the fatherless were particularly vulnerable members of ancient society, since they often had little or no economic means. The wicked could easily take advantage of them. God in several Old Testament passages commanded Israel to care especially for these helpless members of society. See, for example, Deut 24:17-22; Ps 146:9; Is 1:17; Zech 7:9, 10.They kill the widow and the alienAnd murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, “The Ldoes not see,Nor does the God of Jacob (Israel) notice it.”
8 Consider thoughtfully, you senseless (stupid ones) among the people;And you [dull-minded] fools, when will you become wiseandunderstand?
9 He who made the ear, does He not hear?He who formed the eye, does He not see?
10 He who instructs the nations,Does He not rebukeandpunish,He who teaches man knowledge?
11 The Lknows the thoughts of man,That they are a mere breath (vain, empty, futile).
12 Blessed [with wisdom and prosperity] is the man whom You disciplineandinstruct, O L,And whom You teach from Your law,
13 That You may grant him [power to calm himself and find] peace in the days of adversity,Until the pit is dug for the wickedandungodly.
14 For the Lwill not abandon His people,Nor will He abandon His inheritance.
15 For judgment will again be righteous,And all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will stand up for me against the evildoers?Who will take a stand for me against those who do wickedness?
17 If the Lhad not been my help,I would soon have dwelt in [the land of] silence.
18 If I say, “My foot has slipped,”Your compassionandlovingkindness, O L, will hold me up.
19 When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,Your comforts delight me.
20 Can a throne of destruction be allied with You,One which framesanddevises mischief by decree [under the sacred name of law]?
21 They band themselves together against the life of the righteousAnd condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lhas become my high toweranddefense,And my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He has turned back their own wickedness upon themAnd will destroy them by means of their own evil;The Lour God will wipe them out.