1 O Lord God the auenger, O God the auenger, shewe thy selfe clearely. 2 Exalt thy selfe, O Iudge of the worlde, and render a reward to the proude. 3 Lord how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4 They prate and speake fiercely: all the workers of iniquitie vaunt themselues. 5 They smite downe thy people, O Lord, and trouble thine heritage. 6 They slay the widowe and the stranger, and murder the fatherlesse. 7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see: neither will the God of Iaakob regard it. 8 Vnderstande ye vnwise among the people: and ye fooles, when will ye be wise? 9 Hee that planted the eare, shall hee not heare? or he that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10 Or he that chastiseth the nations, shall he not correct? hee that teacheth man knowledge, shall he not knowe? 11 The Lord knoweth the thoughtes of man, that they are vanitie. 12 Blessed is the man, whom thou chastisest, O Lord, and teachest him in thy Lawe, 13 That thou mayest giue him rest from the dayes of euill, whiles the pitte is digged for the wicked. 14 Surely the Lord will not faile his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. 15 For iudgement shall returne to iustice, and all the vpright in heart shall follow after it. 16 Who will rise vp with me against the wicked? or who will take my part against the workers of iniquitie? 17 If the Lord had not holpen me, my soule had almost dwelt in silence. 18 When I said, My foote slideth, thy mercy, O Lord, stayed me. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts in mine heart, thy comfortes haue reioyced my soule. 20 Hath the throne of iniquitie fellowship with thee, which forgeth wrong for a Lawe? 21 They gather them together against the soule of the righteous, and condemne the innocent blood. 22 But the Lord is my refuge, and my God is the rocke of mine hope. 23 And hee will recompence them their wickednes, and destroy them in their owne malice: yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them.
The Lord Punishes the Guilty
1 Lord God, you punish
the guilty.
Show what you are like
and punish them now.
2 You judge the earth.
Come and help us!
Pay back those proud people
for what they have done.
3 How long will the wicked
celebrate and be glad?
4 All of those cruel people
strut and boast,
5 and they crush and wound
your chosen nation, Lord.
6 They murder widows,
foreigners, and orphans.
7 Then they say,
“The Lord God of Jacob
doesn't see or know.”
8 Can't you fools see?
Won't you ever learn?
9 God gave us ears and eyes!
Can't he hear and see?
10 God instructs the nations
and gives knowledge to us all.
Won't he also correct us?
11 The Lord knows how useless
our plans really are.
12 Our Lord, you bless everyone
that you instruct and teach
by using your Law.
13 You give them rest
from their troubles,
until a pit can be dug
for the wicked.
14 You won't turn your back
on your chosen nation.
15 Justice and fairness
will go hand in hand,
and all who do right
will follow along.
16 Who will stand up for me
against those cruel people?
17 If you had not helped me, Lord,
I would soon have gone
to the land of silence.
18 When I felt my feet slipping,
you came with your love
and kept me steady.
19 And when I was burdened
with worries,
you comforted me
and made me feel secure.
20 But you are opposed
to dishonest lawmakers
21 who gang up to murder
innocent victims.
22 You, Lord God, are my fortress,
that mighty rock
where I am safe.
23 You will pay back my enemies,
and you will wipe them out
for the evil they did.