1 O Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!

2 R ise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud.

3 H ow long shall the wicked, O Lord, How long shall the wicked exult?

4 T hey pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; All who do wickedness vaunt themselves.

5 T hey crush Your people, O Lord, And afflict Your heritage.

6 T hey slay the widow and the stranger And murder the orphans.

7 T hey have said, “ The Lord does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.”

8 P ay heed, you senseless among the people; And when will you understand, stupid ones?

9 H e who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?

10 H e who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, Even He who teaches man knowledge?

11 T he Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath.

12 B lessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord, And whom You teach out of Your law;

13 T hat You may grant him relief from the days of adversity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14 F or the Lord will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

15 F or judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 W ho will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?

17 I f the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

18 I f I should say, “ My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.

19 W hen my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.

20 C an a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree?

21 T hey band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.

22 B ut the Lord has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.

23 H e has brought back their wickedness upon them And will destroy them in their evil; The Lord our God will destroy them.