Psalms

A collection of songs and prayers expressing a wide range of emotions and thoughts on faith.

Chapter 94

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

*Dear God, you who has the right to take action against wrongdoing; God, you who has the power to punish, please reveal yourself.

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

*Raise yourself, earth's judge: give a reward to the arrogant.

3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

*LORD, for how much longer will the bad people keep winning?

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

*For how long will they keep saying harsh things, and those who do wrong proudly boast about it?

5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.

*They shatter your people, Lord, and hurt your special inheritance.

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

*They harm widows and outsiders, and kill children without parents.

7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

*But they say, "The Lord won't notice, and God won't care about it either."

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

*"Hey, uncivilized folks among the crowd! And you foolish people, when will you become smart?"

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

*The one who created the ear will be able to hear, and the one who made the eye will be able to see.

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

*If someone disciplines non-believers, shouldn't they be correct? If someone teaches people knowledge, shouldn't they also know?

11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

*The Lord knows what people think, and He knows it's all meaningless.

12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

*Blessed is the person you teach and discipline, Lord, and help them through your rules.

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

*So that you can provide him with rest from difficult times, until the pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

*The LORD won't abandon his people or leave his inherited land.

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

*But fairness will come back to goodness: and those with honest hearts will follow it.

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

*Who will defend me from the wrongdoers, or support me against those who do wicked things?

17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

*Without the Lord's help, my life would have been quiet almost as if I didn't speak or act.

18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.

*When I stumbled and felt like falling, Lord, your kindness saved me.

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

*In many thoughts, you bring comfort and joy to my heart.

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

*Should the seat of wrongdoing be friends with you, which creates trouble using a rule?

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

*They come together to attack the good person's spirit, and they blame the innocent for something wrong.

22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

*But God protects me; He is the strong shelter I can rely on.

23 And 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 will make them face their own wrongdoing, and punish them for their evil actions. Yes, the Lord will be the one to do this.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes