1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

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

2 L ift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render to the proud a fit compensation!

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

Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph and exult?

4 H ow long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

They pour out arrogant words, speaking hard things; all the evildoers boast loftily.

5 T hey break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage.

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

6 T hey slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.

They slay the widow and the transient stranger and murder the unprotected orphan.

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

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

8 U nderstand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

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

9 H e that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

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

10 H e that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?

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

11 T he Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

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

12 B lessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;

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

13 T hat thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

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

14 F or the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

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

15 B ut judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

For justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

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

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

17 U nless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

Unless the Lord had been my help, I would soon have dwelt in silence.

18 W hen I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.

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

19 I n the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!

20 S hall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

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

21 T hey gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

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

22 B ut the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

But the Lord has become my High Tower and Defense, and my God the Rock of my refuge.

23 A nd he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.

And 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.