Psalms — Chapter 94

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1O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.

2Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

3How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?

4They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.

5They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage.

6They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.

7They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”

8Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?

9He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

10He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?

11The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

12Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,

13to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.

15Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?

17Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

18If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.

19When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.

20Can a corrupt throne be Your ally—one devising mischief by decree?

21They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

22But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge.

23He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.

1O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

2Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

3LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

4How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

5They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.

6They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.

7Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

8Understand, 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 heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?

11The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

13That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

14For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

15But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

16Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

17Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

18When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.

19In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

22But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

23And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

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.

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.

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.

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. Psalm 95

1O Lord, the God who avenges! O God who avenges, reveal your splendor.

2Rise up, O judge of the earth. Pay back the proud.

3O Lord, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked celebrate?

4They spew out threats and speak defiantly; all the evildoers boast.

5O Lord, they crush your people; they oppress the nation that belongs to you.

6They kill the widow and the resident foreigner, and they murder the fatherless.

7Then they say, “The Lord does not see this; the God of Jacob does not take notice of it.”

8Take notice of this, you ignorant people. You fools, when will you ever understand?

9Does the one who makes the human ear not hear? Does the one who forms the human eye not see?

10Does the one who disciplines the nations not punish? He is the one who imparts knowledge to human beings!

11The Lord knows that peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt.

12How blessed is the one whom you instruct, O Lord, the one whom you teach from your law

13in order to protect him from times of trouble, until the wicked are destroyed.

14Certainly the Lord does not forsake his people; he does not abandon the nation that belongs to him.

15For justice will prevail, and all the morally upright will be vindicated.

16Who will rise up to defend me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evildoers?

17If the Lord had not helped me, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

18If I say, “My foot is slipping,” your loyal love, O Lord, supports me.

19When worries threaten to overwhelm me, your soothing touch makes me happy.

20Cruel rulers are not your allies, those who make oppressive laws.

21They conspire against the blameless and condemn to death the innocent.

22But the Lord will protect me, and my God will shelter me.

23He will pay them back for their sin. He will destroy them because of their evil; the Lord our God will destroy them.

1Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out.

2Rise up, you judge of the earth. Pay back the proud what they deserve.

3Yahweh, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph?

4They pour out arrogant words. All the evildoers boast.

5They break your people in pieces, Yahweh, and afflict your heritage.

6They kill the widow and the alien, and murder the fatherless.

7They say, “Yah will not see, neither will Jacob’s God consider.”

8Consider, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you be wise?

9He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear? He who formed the eye, won’t he see?

10He who disciplines the nations, won’t he punish? He who teaches man knows.

11Yahweh knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

12Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Yah, and teach out of your law;

13that you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked.

14For Yahweh won’t reject his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

15For judgment will return to righteousness. All the upright in heart shall follow it.

16Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evildoers?

17Unless Yahweh had been my help, my soul would have soon lived in silence.

18When I said, “My foot is slipping!” Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.

19In the multitude of my thoughts within me, your comforts delight my soul.

20Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute?

21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

22But Yahweh has been my high tower, my God, the rock of my refuge.

23He has brought on them their own iniquity, and will cut them off in their own wickedness. Yahweh, our God, will cut them off.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

A lament calling on God, the avenger, to rise up and shine forth against the arrogant wicked who crush his people, kill the widow, the foreigner, and the fatherless, and assume the LORD does not see or care (vv. 1-7). The psalmist rebukes their foolishness, asking whether the one who formed the ear and eye does not hear and see, and pronounces blessing on the person God disciplines and teaches, who is given relief until judgment again becomes just (vv. 8-15). He asks who will stand up for him against evildoers, confessing that without the LORD's help he would have perished, and that God's comfort brought joy amid his anxious thoughts (vv. 16-19). The psalm closes by rejecting any alliance between corrupt rulers and God, affirming the LORD as his fortress who will repay the wicked for their sins and destroy them (vv. 20-23).

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses.
Classification: Community Lament / Wisdom Psalm
Attributed Author: Anonymous
Key Themes: God of vengeance, cry against oppressors, the folly of thinking God cannot see, blessedness of divine discipline, God's comfort amid anxious thoughts, God as defense and refuge
Historical Context: This psalm follows the enthronement psalms (93, 95-99) that declare "The LORD reigns," yet addresses the painful reality that wicked oppressors still crush God's people. If God reigns, why do the wicked triumph? The psalm answers: God does see (vv.9-10), He will judge (vv.23), and meanwhile He disciplines and comforts His own (vv.12-13,19). The oppressors described (killing widows, strangers, fatherless — v.6) and their legislative injustice ("frameth mischief by a law" — v.20) suggest a period of institutional corruption — possibly the late monarchy or exile. Paul quotes v.11 in 1 Corinthians 3:20.
O LORD God, to Whom Vengeance Belongeth (vv.1-3): O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. The phrase is said twice, and the doubling is the point of it: vengeance is claimed as God's property, which is the same claim Deuteronomy 32:35 makes and Paul repeats in Romans 12:19. The psalm is not asking for permission to retaliate but for the owner to act. Then the question that runs under every lament of this kind, LORD, how long shall the wicked triumph.
The LORD Shall Not See (vv.4-7): How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? The charge is specific and it names the defenceless in the order the law names them, they slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. And the motive is given as a theology rather than as greed, yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. What the oppressors have concluded is that heaven is not watching, which is the belief the next section takes apart.
He That Planted the Ear, Shall He Not Hear (vv.8-11): Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? The reply is an argument from making to capacity, he that planted the ear, shall he not hear, he that formed the eye, shall he not see, and it is one of the tightest pieces of reasoning in the psalter. A maker is not blinder than his product. The last line then turns the tables completely, the LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity, so the ones who assumed God could not see are the ones fully seen.
Blessed Is the Man Whom Thou Chastenest (vv.12-15): Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law. The psalm makes a move here that a complaint about injustice is not obliged to make: it calls discipline a blessing, and pairs chastening with teaching so that the one is the method of the other. The purpose is rest, that thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity. And the ground of it is covenant, for the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
My Foot Slippeth, Thy Mercy Held Me Up (vv.16-19): Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? The question is asked and left without a human answer, which is how the psalm gets to its own, unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. Silence here is the grave. Then the verse that reports a rescue at the moment of failure rather than before it, when I said, My foot slippeth, thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. And the one line in the psalm about the inside of a troubled head, in the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
The Throne of Iniquity Which Frameth Mischief by a Law (vv.20-21): Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? This is the sharpest question in the psalm and it is about legislation, not crime. Wrong given statutory form is still wrong, and the psalm denies that such a court can claim God as a partner. The charge that follows is judicial murder, they gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
The LORD Is My Defence (vv.22-23): But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. The psalm ends where it began, with the case in God's hands, and the sentence it expects is self-inflicted, he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness. The wickedness is the instrument. That is a narrower request than the opening cry for vengeance might suggest, and the psalm never does say what it wants done to anyone by its own hand.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Psalm 94 | The God who Avenges | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Psalm 94 - The LORD, My Defense
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of Psalms -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Asking God How Long Injustice Will Last (v.3) — The psalmist openly presses God on how long the wicked will keep triumphing, refusing to pretend the injustice doesn't hurt. Do you feel free to bring your honest, unresolved questions to God, or do you suppress them?
  • The God Who Sees and Hears (v.9) — The psalmist reasons that the God who designed the ear and the eye cannot Himself be blind or deaf to what happens to His people. Does it change how you face injustice to remember that nothing escapes God's notice?
  • Discipline as a Sign of Blessing (v.12) — Being corrected and taught by God is called a blessing here, not a punishment to dread. Can you look back at a season of God's discipline and see it now as care rather than rejection?
  • Comfort in the Middle of Anxious Thoughts (v.19) — God's comfort doesn't empty the mind of worry but meets the psalmist right inside the flood of anxious thoughts. Where do you need to invite God's comfort into your worry instead of waiting for the worry to end first?
  • God as Defense When Justice Is Delayed (v.22) — Even while injustice continues, the psalmist calls God his stronghold and the rock of his refuge. Where do you need to lean on God as your defense while you wait for Him to act?