[1] The LORD is a God who punishes. Since you are the one who punishes, come and show your anger. [2] Judge of the earth, rise up. Pay back proud people for what they have done. [3] LORD, how long will those who are evil be glad? How long will they be full of joy? [4] Proud words pour out of their mouths. All those who do evil are always bragging. [5] LORD, they crush your people. They treat badly those who belong to you. [6] They kill outsiders. They kill widows. They murder children whose fathers have died. [7] They say, “The LORD doesn’t see what’s happening. The God of Jacob doesn’t pay any attention to it.” [8] You who aren’t wise, pay attention. You foolish people, when will you become wise? [9] Does he who made the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? [10] Does he who corrects nations not punish? Does he who teaches human beings not know anything? [11] The LORD knows what people think. He knows that their thoughts don’t amount to anything. [12] LORD, blessed is the person you correct. Blessed is the person you teach from your law. [13] You give them rest from times of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap sinners. [14] The LORD won’t say no to his people. He will never desert those who belong to him. [15] He will again judge people in keeping with what is right. All those who have honest hearts will follow the right way. [16] Who will rise up for me against sinful people? Who will stand up for me against those who do evil? [17] Suppose the LORD had not helped me. Then I would soon have been lying quietly in the grave. [18] I said, “My foot is slipping.” But LORD, your faithful love kept me from falling. [19] I was very worried. But your comfort brought me joy. [20] Can you have anything to do with rulers who aren’t fair? Can those who make laws that cause suffering be friends of yours? [21] Evil people join together against those who do what is right. They sentence to death those who aren’t guilty of doing anything wrong. [22] But the LORD has become like a fort to me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. [23] He will pay them back for their sins. He will destroy them for their evil acts. The LORD our God will destroy them.
