1 O God, in whose hands is punishment, O God of punishment, let your shining face be seen.
2 Be lifted up, O judge of the earth; let their reward come to the men of pride.
3 How long will sinners, O Lord, how long will sinners have joy over us?
4 Words of pride come from their lips; all the workers of evil say great things of themselves.
5 Your people are crushed by them, O Lord, your heritage is troubled,
6 They put to death the widow and the guest, they take the lives of children who have no father;
7 And they say, Jah will not see it, the God of Jacob will not give thought to it.
8 Give your mind to my words, you who are without wisdom among the people; you foolish men, when will you be wise?
9 Has he by whom your ears were planted no hearing? or is he blind by whom your eyes were formed?
10 He who is the judge of the nations, will he not give men the reward of their acts, even he who gives knowledge to man?
11 The Lord has knowledge of the thoughts of man, for they are only a breath.
12 Happy is the man who is guided by you, O Jah, and to whom you give teaching out of your law;
13 So that you may give him rest from the days of evil, till a hole is made ready for the destruction of the sinners.
14 The Lord will not give up his people, or take away his support from his heritage;
15 But decisions will again be made in righteousness; and they will be kept by all whose hearts are true.
16 Who will give me help against the sinners? and who will be my support against the workers of evil?
17 If the Lord had not been my helper, my soul would quickly have gone down into death.
18 If I say, My foot is slipping; your mercy, O Lord, is my support.
19 Among all my troubled thoughts, your comforts are the delight of my soul.
20 What part with you has the seat of sin, which makes evil into a law?
21 They are banded together against the soul of the upright, to give decisions against those who have done no wrong.
22 But the Lord is my safe resting-place; my God is the Rock where I am safe.
23 And he has made their evil designs come back on themselves, cutting them off in their sin; the Lord our God will put an end to them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 94
Commentary on Psalms 94 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 94
Ps 94:1-23. The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of enemies, rebukes them for their wickedness and folly, and encourages himself, in the confidence that God will punish evildoers, and favor His people.
1, 2. God's revenge is His judicial infliction of righteous punishment.
show thyself—(Compare Margin).
2. Lift up thyself—or, "Arise," both figures representing God as heretofore indifferent (compare Ps 3:7; 22:16, 20).
3, 4. In an earnest expostulation he expresses his desire that the insolent triumph of the wicked may be ended.
5, 6. thy people [and] thine heritage—are synonymous, the people being often called God's heritage. As justice to the weak is a sign of the best government, their oppression is a sign of the worst (De 10:18; Isa 10:2).
7. Their cruelty is only exceeded by their wicked and absurd presumption (Ps 10:11; 59:7).
8. ye brutish—(Compare Ps 73:22; 92:6).
9-11. The evidence of God's providential government is found in His creative power and omniscience, which also assure us that He can punish the wicked in regard to all their vain purposes.
12, 13. On the other hand He favors though He chastens, the pious, and will teach and preserve them till the prosperous wicked are overthrown.
14, 15. This results from His abiding love (De 32:15), which is further evinced by His restoring order in His government, whose right administration will be approved by the good.
16. These questions imply that none other than God will help (Ps 60:9),
17-19. a fact fully confirmed by his past experience.
dwelt in silence—as in the grave (Ps 31:17).
19. my thoughts—or, anxious cares.
20. throne—power, rulers.
iniquity [and] mischief—both denote evils done to others, as Ps 94:21 explains.
22, 23. Yet he is safe in God's care.
defence—(Ps 59:9).
rock of … refuge—(Ps 9:9; 18:2).
23. bring … iniquity—(Compare Ps 5:10; 7:16).
in their … wickedness—while they are engaged in evil doing.