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

O Lord, the God Who punishes, God Who punishes, let Your light shine!

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

Rise up, You Judge of the earth. Pay what is owed to the proud.

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

How long will the sinful, O Lord, how long will the sinful be full of joy?

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

They pour out proud words. All those who do wrong, talk about themselves as if they are great people.

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

They crush Your people, O Lord. They bring trouble upon Your chosen nation.

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

They kill the woman whose husband has died and the stranger. They kill the children who have no parents.

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

And they say, “The Lord does not see. The God of Jacob does not care.”

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

Listen, you foolish ones among the people. You fools, when will you understand?

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

He Who made the ear, does He not hear? He Who made the eye, does 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 punishes nations so they might give up sin, will He not speak strong words to them? Is He not the One Who teaches man all he knows?

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

The Lord knows the thoughts of man. He knows that they are empty.

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

Happy is the man who is punished until he gives up sin, O Lord, and whom You teach from Your Law.

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

You give him rest from days of trouble, until a hole is dug for the sinful.

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

For the Lord will not turn away from His people. He will not leave His chosen nation.

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

For what is decided will be right and good. And all those whose hearts are right 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 sinful? Who will take a stand for me against those who do wrong?

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

If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have been among the dead.

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

When I said, “My foot is going out from under me,” Your loving-kindness held me up, O Lord.

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

When my worry is great within me, Your comfort brings joy to my soul.

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

Can a sinful throne that brings trouble by its laws be a friend to You?

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

They join together against the life of those who are right and good. They send those who are not guilty to their death.

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

But the Lord has been my strong place, my God, and the rock where I am safe.

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.

He has brought back their own sin upon them and will destroy them for their wrong-doing. The Lord our God will destroy them.