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94 The Lord is a God who punishes.
    Since you are the one who punishes, come and show your anger.
Judge of the earth, rise up.
    Pay back proud people for what they have done.
Lord, how long will those who are evil be glad?
    How long will they be full of joy?

Proud words pour out of their mouths.
    All those who do evil are always bragging.
Lord, they crush your people.
    They treat badly those who belong to you.
They kill outsiders. They kill widows.
    They murder children whose fathers have died.
They say, “The Lord doesn’t see what’s happening.
    The God of Jacob doesn’t pay any attention to it.”

You who aren’t wise, pay attention.
    You foolish people, when will you become wise?
Does he who made the ear not hear?
    Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who corrects nations not punish?
    Does he who teaches human beings not know anything?
11 The Lord knows what people think.
    He knows that their thoughts don’t amount to anything.

12 Lord, blessed is the person you correct.
    Blessed is the person you teach from your law.
13 You give them rest from times of trouble,
    until a pit is dug to trap sinners.
14 The Lord won’t say no to his people.
    He will never desert those who belong to him.
15 He will again judge people in keeping with what is right.
    All those who have honest hearts will follow the right way.

16 Who will rise up for me against sinful people?
    Who will stand up for me against those who do evil?
17 Suppose the Lord had not helped me.
    Then I would soon have been lying quietly in the grave.
18 I said, “My foot is slipping.”
    But Lord, your faithful love kept me from falling.
19 I was very worried.
    But your comfort brought me joy.

20 Can you have anything to do with rulers who aren’t fair?
    Can those who make laws that cause suffering be friends of yours?
21 Evil people join together against those who do what is right.
    They sentence to death those who aren’t guilty of doing anything wrong.
22 But the Lord has become like a fort to me.
    My God is my rock. I go to him for safety.
23 He will pay them back for their sins.
    He will destroy them for their evil acts.
    The Lord our God will destroy them.

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.