The Just Judge

1LORD, God of vengeance —

God of vengeance, appear.a

2Rise up, Judge of the earth;

repay the proud what they deserve.b

3LORD, how long will the wicked —

how long will the wicked gloat?c

4They pour out arrogant words;

all the evildoers boast.d

5LORD, they crush Your people;

they afflict Your heritage.e

6They kill the widow and the foreigner

and murder the fatherless.f

7They say, “The LORD doesn’t see it.

The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.”g

8Pay attention, you stupid people!

Fools, when will you be wise?h

9Can the One who shaped the ear not hear,

the One who formed the eye not see?i

10The One who instructs nations,

the One who teaches man knowledge —

does He not discipline?j

11The LORD knows man’s thoughts;

they are meaningless.k

12LORD, happy is the man You discipline

and teach from Your lawl

13to give him relief from troubled times

until a pit is dug for the wicked.m

14The LORD will not forsake His people

or abandon His heritage,n

15for justice will again be righteous,

and all the upright in heart will followo it.p

16Who stands up for me against the wicked?

Who takes a stand for me against evildoers?q

17If the LORD had not been my helper,

I would soon rest in the silence of death.r

18If I say, “My foot is slipping,”

Your faithful love will support me, LORD.s

19When I am filled with cares,

Your comfort brings me joy.t

20Can a corrupt throne —

one that creates trouble by law —

become Your ally?u

21They band together against the life of the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.v

22But the LORD is my refuge;

my God is the rock of my protection.w

23He will pay them back for their sins

and destroy them for their evil.

The LORD our God will destroy them.x