1O Jehovah , thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, Thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, shine forth . 2Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: Render to the proud their desert . 3Jehovah , how long shall the wicked , How long shall the wicked triumph ? 4They prate, they speak arrogantly : All the workers of iniquity boast themselves . 5They break in pieces thy people , O Jehovah , And afflict thy heritage . 6They slay the widow and the sojourner , And murder the fatherless . 7And they say, Jehovah will not see , Neither will the God of Jacob consider .
God's Sovereignty and Knowledge
8Consider , ye brutish among the people ; And ye fools , when will ye be wise ? 9He that planted the ear , shall he not hear ? He that formed the eye , shall he not see ? 10He that chastiseth the nations , shall not he correct , Even he that teacheth man knowledge ? 11Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man , That they are vanity .
The Assurance of God's Justice
12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest , O Jehovah , And teachest out of thy law ; 13That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity , Until the pit be digged for the wicked . 14For Jehovah will not cast off his people , Neither will he forsake his inheritance . 15For judgment shall return unto righteousness ; And all the upright in heart shall follow it .
The Comfort of God's Presence
16Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? 17Unless Jehovah had been my help , My soul had soon dwelt in silence . 18When I said, My foot slippeth ; Thy lovingkindness , O Jehovah , held me up . 19In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul . 20Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by statute ? 21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous , And condemn the innocent blood . 22But Jehovah hath been my high tower , And my God the rock of my refuge . 23And he hath brought upon them their own iniquity, And will cut them off in their own wickedness ; Jehovah our God will cut them off .