¹ The Lord is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
² Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
³ How long, Lord, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?
⁴ They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
⁵ They crush your people, Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.
⁶ They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
⁷ They say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
⁸ Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
⁹ Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
¹⁰ Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
¹¹ The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.
¹² Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law;
¹³ you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.
¹⁴ For the Lord will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
¹⁵ Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
¹⁷ Unless the Lord had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
¹⁸ When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
²⁰ Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
²¹ The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
²² But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
²³ He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will destroy them.