New King James Version

New International Version

God the Refuge of the Righteous

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs —
O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

1

Psalm 94

The Lord is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.

2

Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
[a]Render punishment to the proud.

2

Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.

3

Lord, how long will the wicked,
How long will the wicked triumph?

3

How long, Lord, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?

4

They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.

4

They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.

5

They break in pieces Your people, O Lord,
And afflict Your heritage.

5

They crush your people, Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.

6

They slay the widow and the stranger,
And murder the fatherless.

6

They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.

7

Yet they say, “The Lord does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob [b]understand.”

7

They say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.”

8

Understand, you senseless among the people;
And you fools, when will you be wise?

8

Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?

9

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

9

Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?

10

He who [c]instructs the [d]nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge?

10

Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?

11

The Lord knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile.

11

The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.

12

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

12

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law;

13

That You may give him [e]rest from the days of adversity,
Until the pit is dug for the wicked.

13

you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.

14

For the Lord will not [f]cast off His people,
Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

14

For the Lord will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.

15

But judgment will return to righteousness,
And all the upright in heart will follow it.

15

Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16

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

16

Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

17

Unless the Lord had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.

17

Unless the Lord had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

18

If I say, “My foot slips,”
Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.

18

When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

19

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.

19

When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.

20

Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
Have fellowship with You?

20

Can a corrupt throne be allied with you —
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?

21

They gather together against the life of the righteous,
And condemn innocent blood.

21

The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.

22

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

22

But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

23

He has brought on them their own iniquity,
And shall [g]cut them off in their own wickedness;
The Lord our God shall cut them off.

23

He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will destroy them.

Parallel

New King James Version

New International Version

Psalms 94

Psalms 94