Psalms 94:4-23 - Compare All Versions

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They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, LORD; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.” Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? The LORD knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile. Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Can a corrupt throne be allied with you— a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them.

They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.” Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.

How long will they speak with arrogance? How long will these evil people boast? They crush your people, LORD, hurting those you claim as your own. They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans. “The LORD isn’t looking,” they say, “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes? He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you? He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing? The LORD knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless! Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions. You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked. The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession. Judgment will again be founded on justice, and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it. Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Unless the LORD had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side— leaders whose decrees permit injustice? They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide. God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.

They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.  LORD, they crush your people; they oppress your heritage.  They kill the widow and the resident alien and murder the fatherless.  They say, “The  LORD doesn’t see it. The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.”  Pay attention, you stupid people! Fools, when will you be wise?  Can the one who shaped the ear not hear, the one who formed the eye not see?  The one who instructs nations, the one who teaches mankind knowledge — does he not discipline?  The LORD knows the thoughts of mankind; they are futile.  LORD, how happy is anyone you discipline and teach from your law  to give him relief from troubled times until a pit is dug for the wicked.  The LORD will not leave his people or abandon his heritage,  for the administration of justice will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow   it.  Who stands up for me against the wicked? Who takes a stand for me against evildoers?  If the LORD had not been my helper, I would soon rest in the silence of death.  If I say, “My foot is slipping,” your faithful love will support me,  LORD.  When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy.  Can a corrupt throne be your ally, a throne that makes evil laws?  They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.  But the LORD is my refuge; my God is the rock of my protection.  He will pay them back for their sins and destroy them for their evil. The LORD our God will destroy them.

How long shall they utter and speak hard things? And all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, And afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, Neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people: And ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, And teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off his people, Neither will he forsake his inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness: And all the upright in heart shall follow it. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the LORD had been my help, My soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn the innocent blood. But the LORD is my defence; And my God is the rock of my refuge. 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.

They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless. Yet they say, “The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand.” Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, And teach out of Your law, That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgment will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the LORD had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood. But the LORD has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought on them their own iniquity, And shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The LORD our God shall cut them off.

GOD, the wicked get away with murder— how long will you let this go on? They brag and boast and crow about their crimes! They walk all over your people, GOD, exploit and abuse your precious people. They take out anyone who gets in their way; if they can’t use them, they kill them. They think, “GOD isn’t looking, Jacob’s God is out to lunch.” Well, think again, you idiots, fools—how long before you get smart? Do you think Ear-Maker doesn’t hear, Eye-Shaper doesn’t see? Do you think the trainer of nations doesn’t correct, the teacher of Adam doesn’t know? GOD knows, all right— knows your stupidity, sees your shallowness. How blessed the man you train, GOD, the woman you instruct in your Word, Providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil, while a jail is being built for the wicked. GOD will never walk away from his people, never desert his precious people. Rest assured that justice is on its way and every good heart put right. Who stood up for me against the wicked? Who took my side against evil workers? If GOD hadn’t been there for me, I never would have made it. The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, GOD, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up. Can Misrule have anything in common with you? Can Troublemaker pretend to be on your side? They ganged up on good people, plotted behind the backs of the innocent. But GOD became my hideout, God was my high mountain retreat, Then boomeranged their evil back on them: for their evil ways he wiped them out, our GOD cleaned them out for good.

They pour out words, they speak arrogantly; All who do injustice boast. They crush Your people, LORD, And afflict Your inheritance. They kill the widow and the stranger And murder the orphans. They have said, “The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob perceive.” ¶Pay attention, you stupid ones among the people; And when will you understand, foolish ones? He who planted the ear, does He not hear? Or He who formed the eye, does He not see? He who disciplines the nations, will He not rebuke, He who teaches mankind knowledge? The LORD knows human thoughts, That they are mere breath. ¶Blessed is the man whom You discipline, LORD, And whom You teach from Your Law, So that You may grant him relief from the days of adversity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He abandon His inheritance. For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do injustice? ¶If the LORD had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence. If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your faithfulness, LORD, will support me. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul. Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree? They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has been my refuge, And my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought back their injustice upon them, And He will destroy them in their evil; The LORD our God will destroy them.

They pour out words, speaking arrogant things; All who do evil boast proudly. [Jude 14, 15] They crush Your people, O LORD, And afflict and abuse Your heritage. They kill the widow and the alien And murder the fatherless. Yet they say, “The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob (Israel) notice it.” ¶Consider thoughtfully, you senseless (stupid ones) among the people; And you [dull-minded] fools, when will you become wise and understand? He who made the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see? He who instructs the nations, Does He not rebuke and punish, He who teaches man knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath (vain, empty, futile). [1 Cor 3:20] ¶Blessed [with wisdom and prosperity] is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O LORD, And whom You teach from Your law, That You may grant him [power to calm himself and find] peace in the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked and ungodly. For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He abandon His inheritance. For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will stand up for me against the evildoers? Who will take a stand for me against those who do wickedness? ¶If the LORD had not been my help, I would soon have dwelt in [the land of] silence. If I say, “My foot has slipped,” Your compassion and lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comforts delight me. Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which frames and devises mischief by decree [under the sacred name of law]? They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has become my high tower and defense, And my God the rock of my refuge. He has turned back their own wickedness upon them And will destroy them by means of their own evil; The LORD our God will wipe them out.

They spew out threats and speak defiantly; all the evildoers boast. O LORD, they crush your people; they oppress the nation that belongs to you. They kill the widow and the one residing outside his native land, and they murder the fatherless. Then they say, “The LORD does not see this; the God of Jacob does not take notice of it.” Take notice of this, you ignorant people! You fools, when will you ever understand? Does the one who makes the human ear not hear? Does the one who forms the human eye not see? Does the one who disciplines the nations not punish? He is the one who imparts knowledge to human beings! The LORD knows that peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt. How blessed is the one whom you instruct, O LORD, the one whom you teach from your law, in order to protect him from times of trouble, until the wicked are destroyed. Certainly the LORD does not forsake his people; he does not abandon the nation that belongs to him. For justice will prevail, and all the morally upright will be vindicated. Who will rise up to defend me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evildoers? If the LORD had not helped me, I would have laid down in the silence of death. If I say, “My foot is slipping,” your loyal love, O LORD, supports me. When worries threaten to overwhelm me, your soothing touch makes me happy. Cruel rulers are not your allies, those who make oppressive laws. They conspire against the blameless, and condemn to death the innocent. But the LORD will protect me, and my God will shelter me. He will pay them back for their sin. He will destroy them because of their evil; the LORD our God will destroy them.