[1] O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, appear! [2] Arise, O Judge of the earth. Give arrogant people what they deserve. [3] How long, O LORD, will wicked people triumph? How long? [4] They ramble. They speak arrogantly. All troublemakers brag about themselves. [5] They crush your people, O LORD. They make those who belong to you suffer. [6] They kill widows and foreigners, and they murder orphans. [7] They say, "The LORD doesn't see it. The God of Jacob doesn't even pay attention to it." [8] Pay attention, you stupid people! When will you become wise, you fools? [9] God created ears. Do you think he can't hear? He formed eyes. Do you think he can't see? [10] He disciplines nations. Do you think he can't punish? He teaches people. Do you think he doesn't know anything? [11] The LORD knows that people's thoughts are pointless. [12] O LORD, blessed is the person whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings. [13] You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble while a pit is dug to trap wicked people. [14] The LORD will never desert his people or abandon those who belong to him. [15] The decisions of judges will again become fair, and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice. [16] Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will stand by my side against troublemakers? [17] If the LORD had not come to help me, my soul would have quickly fallen silent in death. [18] When I said, "My feet are slipping," your mercy, O LORD, continued to hold me up. [19] When I worried about many things, your assuring words soothed my soul. [20] Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things able to be your partners? [21] They join forces to take the lives of righteous people. They condemn innocent people to death. [22] The LORD has become my stronghold. My God has become my rock of 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.
