1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, appear!

2 Arise, O Judge of the earth. Give arrogant people what they deserve.

3 How long, O LORD, will wicked people triumph? How long?

4 They ramble. They speak arrogantly. All troublemakers brag about themselves.

5 They crush your people, O LORD. They make those who belong to you suffer.

6 They kill widows and foreigners, and they murder orphans.

7 They say, "The LORD doesn't see it. The God of Jacob doesn't even pay attention to it."

8 Pay attention, you stupid people! When will you become wise, you fools?

9 God created ears. Do you think he can't hear? He formed eyes. Do you think he can't see?

10 He disciplines nations. Do you think he can't punish? He teaches people. Do you think he doesn't know anything?

11 The LORD knows that people's thoughts are pointless.

12 O LORD, blessed is the person whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings.

13 You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble while a pit is dug to trap wicked people.

14 The LORD will never desert his people or abandon those who belong to him.

15 The decisions of judges will again become fair, and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice.

16 Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will stand by my side against troublemakers?

17 If the LORD had not come to help me, my soul would have quickly fallen silent [in death].

18 When I said, "My feet are slipping," your mercy, O LORD, continued to hold me up.

19 When I worried about many things, your assuring words soothed my soul.

20 Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things able to be your partners?

21 They join forces to take the lives of righteous people. They condemn innocent people to death.

22 The LORD has become my stronghold. My God has become my rock of refuge.

23 He has turned their own wickedness against them. He will destroy them because of their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.