1O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, appear!

2Arise, O Judge of the earth. Give arrogant people what they deserve.

3How long, O LORD, will wicked people triumph? How long?

4They ramble. They speak arrogantly. All troublemakers brag about themselves.

5They crush your people, O LORD. They make those who belong to you suffer.

6They kill widows and foreigners, and they murder orphans.

7They say, "The LORD doesn't see it. The God of Jacob doesn't even pay attention to it."

8Pay attention, you stupid people! When will you become wise, you fools?

9God created ears. Do you think he can't hear? He formed eyes. Do you think he can't see?

10He disciplines nations. Do you think he can't punish? He teaches people. Do you think he doesn't know anything?

11The LORD knows that people's thoughts are pointless.

12O LORD, blessed is the person whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings.

13You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble while a pit is dug to trap wicked people.

14The LORD will never desert his people or abandon those who belong to him.

15The decisions of judges will again become fair, and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice.

16Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will stand by my side against troublemakers?

17If the LORD had not come to help me, my soul would have quickly fallen silent [in death].

18When I said, "My feet are slipping," your mercy, O LORD, continued to hold me up.

19When I worried about many things, your assuring words soothed my soul.

20Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things able to be your partners?

21They join forces to take the lives of righteous people. They condemn innocent people to death.

22The LORD has become my stronghold. My God has become my rock of refuge.

23He has turned their own wickedness against them. He will destroy them because of their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.