1 O Lord God, You to Whom vengeance belongs, O God, You to Whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

O Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!

2 R ise up, O Judge of the earth; render to the proud a fit compensation!

Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud.

3 L ord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph and exult?

How long shall the wicked, O Lord, How long shall the wicked exult?

4 T hey pour out arrogant words, speaking hard things; all the evildoers boast loftily.

They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; All who do wickedness vaunt themselves.

5 T hey crush Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage.

They crush Your people, O Lord, And afflict Your heritage.

6 T hey slay the widow and the transient stranger and murder the unprotected orphan.

They slay the widow and the stranger And murder the orphans.

7 Y et they say, The Lord does not see, neither does the God of Jacob notice it.

They have said, “ The Lord does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.”

8 C onsider and understand, you stupid ones among the people! And you fools, when will you become wise?

Pay heed, you senseless among the people; And when will you understand, stupid ones?

9 H e Who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He Who formed the eye, shall He not see?

He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?

10 H e Who disciplines and instructs the nations, shall He not punish, He Who teaches man knowledge?

He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, Even He who teaches man knowledge?

11 T he Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vain (empty and futile—only a breath).

The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath.

12 B lessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law,

Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord, And whom You teach out of Your law;

13 T hat You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.

That You may grant him relief from the days of adversity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14 F or the Lord will not cast off nor spurn His people, neither will He abandon His heritage.

For the Lord will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

15 F or justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 W ho will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?

17 U nless the Lord had been my help, I would soon have dwelt in silence.

If the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

18 W hen I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.

If I should say, “ My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.

19 I n the multitude of my thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.

20 S hall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with You—they who frame and hide their unrighteous doings under law?

Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree?

21 T hey band themselves together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.

22 B ut the Lord has become my High Tower and Defense, and my God the Rock of my refuge.

But the Lord has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.

23 A nd He will turn back upon them their own iniquity and will wipe them out by means of their own wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.

He has brought back their wickedness upon them And will destroy them in their evil; The Lord our God will destroy them.