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Psalms 94

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[1]The Psalmist calling for justice complaineth of the tyranny and impiety of the wicked: [8]he sheweth God's providence; [12]and teacheth the blessedness of affliction. [16]God is the defender and avenger of the afflicted.

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

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

3. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Metrical version

Psalm 94

C.M. Dundee

O LORD God, unto whom alone
all vengeance doth belong;
O mighty God, who vengeance own'st,
shine forth, avenging wrong.

Lift up thyself, thou of the earth
the sov'reign Judge that art;
And unto those that are so proud
a due reward impart.

How long, O mighty GOD, shall they
who lewd and wicked be,
How long shall they who wicked are
thus triumph haughtily?

How long shall things most hard by them
be uttered and told?
And all that work iniquity
to boast themselves be bold?

Thy folk they break in pieces, LORD,
thine heritage oppress:
The widow they and stranger slay,
and kill the fatherless.

Yet say they, GOD it shall not see
nor God of Jacob know.
Ye brutish people! understand;
fools! when wise will ye grow?

The Lord did plant the ear of man,
and hear then shall not he?
He only formed the eye, and then
shall he not clearly see?

He that the nations doth correct,
shall he not chastise you?
He knowledge unto man doth teach,
and shall himself not know?

Man's thoughts to be but vanity
the LORD doth well discern.
Bless'd is the man thou chast'nest, LORD,
and mak'st thy law to learn:

That thou may'st give him rest from days
of sad adversity,
Until the pit be digged for those
that work iniquity.

For sure the LORD will not cast off
those that his people be,
Neither his own inheritance
quit and forsake will he:

But judgment unto righteousness
shall yet return again;
And all shall follow after it
that are right-hearted men.

Who will rise up for me against
those that do wickedly?
Who will stand up for me 'gainst those
that work iniquity?

Unless the LORD had been my help
when I was sore oppressed,
Almost my soul had in the house
of silence been at rest.

When I had uttered this word,
(my foot doth slip away),
Thy mercy held me up, O LORD,
thy goodness did me stay.

Amidst the multitude of thoughts
which in my heart do fight,
My soul, lest it be overcharged,
thy comforts do delight.

Shall of iniquity the throne
have fellowship with thee,
Which mischief, cunningly contrived,
doth by a law decree?

Against the righteous souls they join,
they guiltless blood condemn.
But of my refuge God's the rock,
and my defence from them.

On them their own iniquity
the Lord shall bring and lay,
And cut them off in their own sin;
our LORD God shall them slay.
This is a psalm for the afflicted people of God, in which, (1.) God's just vengeance is implored upon their haughty, active, cruel, and atheistical oppressors, whose folly is exposed from the consideration of God's works of creation, providence and grace, ver. 1-11. (2.) His gracious comforts are presented to the persecuted saints, that he will bless them in and by their afflictions, and give them rest after them, while their enemies are ruined; that God will not cast them off when cast down, but will, in his due time, reduce things to their right course: to verify which, the psalmist produceth part of his own experience, ver. 12-24.


While I sing, let all revenge be rooted from my heart; all repining at afflictions be banished from my soul. But in every plunge of adversity, let me cast my burden on the Lord, that he may sustain me, and help me in the time of need. Let me rejoice in the assured hopes of God's yet reforming the church, and spreading his glory among the nations.