GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, appear!
1
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs-- O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
2 Arise, O Judge of the earth. Give arrogant people what they deserve.
2
Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud.
3 How long, O LORD, will wicked people triumph? How long?
3
Lord, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?
4 They ramble. They speak arrogantly. All troublemakers brag about themselves.
4
They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
5 They crush your people, O LORD. They make those who belong to you suffer.
5
They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, And afflict Your heritage.
6 They kill widows and foreigners, and they murder orphans.
6
They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless.
7 They say, "The LORD doesn't see it. The God of Jacob doesn't even pay attention to it."
7
Yet they say, "The Lord does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand."
8 Pay attention, you stupid people! When will you become wise, you fools?
8
Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise?
9 God created ears. Do you think he can't hear? He formed eyes. Do you think he can't see?
9
He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
10 He disciplines nations. Do you think he can't punish? He teaches people. Do you think he doesn't know anything?
10
He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?
11 The LORD knows that people's thoughts are pointless.
11
The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.
12 O LORD, blessed is the person whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings.
12
Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law,
13 You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble while a pit is dug to trap wicked people.
13
That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
14 The LORD will never desert his people or abandon those who belong to him.
14
For the Lord will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
15 The decisions of judges will again become fair, and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice.
15
But judgment will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will stand by my side against troublemakers?
16
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 If the LORD had not come to help me, my soul would have quickly fallen silent [in death].
17
Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence.
18 When I said, "My feet are slipping," your mercy, O LORD, continued to hold me up.
18
If I say, "My foot slips," Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.
19 When I worried about many things, your assuring words soothed my soul.
19
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
20 Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things able to be your partners?
20
Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You?
21 They join forces to take the lives of righteous people. They condemn innocent people to death.
21
They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood.
22 The LORD has become my stronghold. My God has become my rock of refuge.
22
But the Lord has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He has turned their own wickedness against them. He will destroy them because of their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.
23
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.