Chapter 94
A Prayer for Retribution against Oppressors
1 O Yahweh, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth.
נְקָמ֥וֹתנקמ֥ותנְקָמוֹתנקמותne.ka.Motvengeance<s>H5360HNcfpa יְהוָ֑היהו֑היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehO YahwehH3068GHNpt אֵ֖לא֖לאֵלאל'elO God ofH0410GHNcmsc נְקָמ֣וֹתנקמ֣ותנְקָמוֹתנקמותne.ka.Motvengeance<s>H5360HNcfpa הוֹפִֽיַע\׃הופיע\הוֹפִֽיַע\׃הופיע\ho.Fi.ya'shine forthH3313\H9016HVhv2ms 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth. Repay upon the proud what is their rightful due.
הִ֭נָּשֵׂאה֭נשאהִנָּשֵׂאהנשאHi.na.se'raise yourself upH5375GHVNv2ms שֹׁפֵ֣טשפ֣טשֹׁפֵטשפטsho.FetO judge ofH8199HVqrmsc הָ/אָ֑רֶץה/א֑רץהָ/אָרֶץה/ארץha./'A.retzthe/ earthH9009H0776GHTd+Ncfsa הָשֵׁ֥בהש֥בהָשֵׁבהשבha.ShevrepayH7725KHVhv2ms גְּ֝מ֗וּלג֝מ֗ולגְּמוּלגמולge.MulrecompenseH1576HNcmsa גֵּאִֽים\׃גאים\גֵּאִֽים\׃גאים\ge.'Improud [people]H1343\H9016HAampa 3 How long will the wicked, O Yahweh, how long will the wicked exult?
מָתַ֖ימת֖ימָתַימתיma.Taiwhen?H4970HTi רְשָׁעִ֥ים\׀רשע֥ים\רְשָׁעִים\׀רשעים\re.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563\H9015HNcmpa יְהוָ֑היהו֑היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehO YahwehH3068GHNpt מָ֝תַ֗ימ֝ת֗ימָתַימתיma.Taiwhen?H4970HTi רְשָׁעִ֥יםרשע֥יםרְשָׁעִיםרשעיםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563HNcmpa יַעֲלֹֽזוּ\׃יעלזו\יַעֲלֹֽזוּ\׃יעלזו\ya.'a.Lo.zuwill they exultH5937\H9016HVqi3mp 4 ⌞They gush words⌟1 unrestrained. All the evildoers boast.
יַבִּ֣יעוּיב֣יעויַבִּיעוּיביעוya.Bi.'uthey pour forthH5042HVhi3mp יְדַבְּר֣וּידבר֣ויְדַבְּרוּידברוye.da.be.Ruthey speakH1696GHVpi3mp עָתָ֑קעת֑קעָתָקעתק'a.TakarroganceH6277HAamsa יִֽ֝תְאַמְּר֗וּי֝תאמר֗ויִֽתְאַמְּרוּיתאמרוyit.'a.me.Ruthey boastH0559HVti3mp פֹּ֥עֲלֵיפ֥עליפֹּעֲלֵיפעליPo.'a.lei[those who] doH6466HVqrmpc אָֽוֶן\׃און\אָֽוֶן\׃און\'A.ven<of> wickednessH0205G\H9016HNcmsa - Literally “They gush, they speak,” which is probably a hendiadys
5 They crush your people, O Yahweh; they oppress your inheritance.
עַמְּ/ךָ֣עמ/ך֣עַמְּ/ךָעמ/ך'a.me./Khapeople/ yourH5971AH9021HNcmsc+Sp2ms יְהוָ֣היהו֣היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehO YahwehH3068GHNpt יְדַכְּא֑וּידכא֑ויְדַכְּאוּידכאוye.da.ke.'Uthey crushH1792HVpi3mp וְֽ/נַחֲלָתְ/ךָ֥ו/נחלת/ך֥וְֽ/נַחֲלָתְ/ךָו/נחלת/ךve./na.cha.la.te./Khaand/ inheritance/ yourH9002H5159H9021HC+Ncfsc+Sp2ms יְעַנּֽוּ\׃יענו\יְעַנּֽוּ\׃יענו\ye.'a.Nuthey afflictH6031B\H9016HVpi3mp 6 They kill widow and stranger, and they murder orphans,
אַ֭לְמָנָהא֭למנהאַלְמָנָהאלמנה'Al.ma.nah[the] widowH0490HNcfsa וְ/גֵ֣רו/ג֣רוְ/גֵרו/גרve./Gerand/ [the] sojournerH9002H1616HC+Ncmsa יַהֲרֹ֑גוּיהר֑גויַהֲרֹגוּיהרגוya.ha.Ro.guthey killH2026HVqi3mp וִֽ/יתוֹמִ֣יםו/יתומ֣יםוִֽ/יתוֹמִיםו/יתומיםvi./to.Mimand/ fatherless onesH9002H3490HC+Ncmpa יְרַצֵּֽחוּ\׃ירצחו\יְרַצֵּֽחוּ\׃ירצחו\ye.ra.Tze.chuthey murderH7523\H9016HVpi3mp 7 while1 they say, “Yah2 does not see,” and “The God of Jacob does not pay attention.”
וַ֭/יֹּ֣אמְרוּו֭/י֣אמרווַ/יֹּאמְרוּו/יאמרוva/i.Yo.me.ruand/ they saidH9001H0559Hc+Vqw3mp לֹ֣אל֣אלֹאלאlo'notH3808HTn יִרְאֶה\־יראה\יִרְאֶה\־יראה\yir.'eh-he will seeH7200G\H9014HVqi3ms יָּ֑הּי֑היָּהּיהYahYahwehH3050HNpm יָ֝בִ֗יןי֝ב֗יןיָבִיןיביןya.Vinhe will perceiveH0995HVqi3ms אֱלֹהֵ֥יאלה֥יאֱלֹהֵיאלהי'e.lo.Hei[the] God ofH0430GHNcmpc יַעֲקֹֽב\׃יעקב\יַעֲקֹֽב\׃יעקב\ya.'a.KoJacobH3290\H9016HNpm - Hebrew “and”
- A shortened form of “Yahweh”
8 You pay attention, O brutes among the people. And you fools, when you will show insight?
בִּ֭ינוּב֭ינובִּינוּבינוBi.nuunderstandH0995HVqv2mp בֹּעֲרִ֣יםבער֣יםבֹּעֲרִיםבעריםbo.'a.RimO stupid [ones]H1197BHVqrmpa בָּ/עָ֑םב/ע֑םבָּ/עָםב/עםba./'Amamong the/ peopleH9003H5971AHRd+Ncmsa וּ֝/כְסִילִ֗יםו֝/כסיל֗יםוּ/כְסִילִיםו/כסיליםu./khe.si.Limand/ O foolsH9002H3684HC+Aampa מָתַ֥ימת֥ימָתַימתיma.Taiwhen?H4970HTi תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ\׃תשכילו\תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ\׃תשכילו\tas.Ki.luwill you have insightH7919A\H9016HVhi2mp 9 Will the one who planted the ear not hear? Will the one who formed the eye not see?
הֲ/נֹ֣טַֽעה/נ֣טעהֲ/נֹטַֽעה/נטעha./No.ta'¿/ [the] planter ofH9008H5193HTi+Vqrmsc אֹ֭זֶןא֭זןאֹזֶןאזן'O.zen[the] earH0241GHNcfsa הֲ/לֹ֣אה/ל֣אהֲ/לֹאה/לאha./Lo'¿/ notH9008H3808HTi+Tn יִשְׁמָ֑עישמ֑עיִשְׁמָעישמעyish.Ma'does he hearH8085GHVqi3ms יֹ֥צֵֽרי֥צריֹצֵֽריצרYo.tzer[the] former ofH3335GHVqrmsc עַ֝֗יִןע֝֗יןעַיִןעין'A.yin[the] eyeH5869AHNcfsa הֲ/לֹ֣אה/ל֣אהֲ/לֹאה/לאha./Lo'¿/ notH9008H3808HTi+Tn יַבִּֽיט\׃יביט\יַבִּֽיט\׃יביט\ya.Bitdoes he seeH5027\H9016HVhi3ms 10 Will the one who instructs nations not rebuke, the one who teaches humankind knowledge?
הֲ/יֹסֵ֣רה/יס֣רהֲ/יֹסֵרה/יסרha./yo.Ser¿/ [the] discipliner ofH9008H3256HTi+Vqrmsc גּ֭וֹיִםג֭ויםגּוֹיִםגויםGo.yimnationsH1471AHNcmpa הֲ/לֹ֣אה/ל֣אהֲ/לֹאה/לאha./Lo'¿/ notH9008H3808HTi+Tn יוֹכִ֑יחַיוכ֑יחיוֹכִיחַיוכיחyo.Khi.achdoes he rebukeH3198HVhi3ms הַֽ/מְלַמֵּ֖דה/מלמ֖דהַֽ/מְלַמֵּדה/מלמדha/m.la.Medthe/ [one who] teachesH9009H3925GHTd+Vprmsa אָדָ֣םאד֣םאָדָםאדם'a.DamhumankindH0120GHNcmsa דָּֽעַת\׃דעת\דָּֽעַת\׃דעת\Da.'atknowledgeH1847\H9016HNcfsa 11 Yahweh knows the thoughts of humankind, that ⌞they are to no purpose⌟.1
יְֽהוָ֗היהו֗היְֽהוָהיהוהYah.wehYahwehH3068GHNpt יֹ֭דֵעַי֭דעיֹדֵעַידעYo.de.a'[is] knowingH3045HVqrmsa מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתמחשב֣ותמַחְשְׁבוֹתמחשבותmach.she.Vot[the] thoughts ofH4284HNcfpc אָדָ֑םאד֑םאָדָםאדם'a.Dama personH0120GHNcmsa הֵ֥מָּהה֥מההֵמָּההמהHe.mahtheyH1992HPp3mp הָֽבֶל\׃הבל\הָֽבֶל\׃הבל\Ha.vel[are] a breathH1892\H9016HNcmsa - Literally “they are a breath” or “a vanity”
12 Blessed is the man, O Yah, whom you instruct and teach from your law,
אַשְׁרֵ֤י\׀אשר֤י\אַשְׁרֵי\׀אשרי\'ash.Reihow blessed!H0835\H9015HNcmpc הַ/גֶּ֣בֶרה/ג֣ברהַ/גֶּבֶרה/גברha./Ge.ver[is] the/ manH9009H1397HTd+Ncmsa תְּיַסְּרֶ֣/נּוּתיסר֣/נותְּיַסְּרֶ/נּוּתיסר/נוte.yas.se.Re./nuyou discipline/ himH3256H9033HVpi2ms+Sp3ms יָּ֑הּי֑היָּהּיהYahO YahwehH3050HNpm וּֽ/מִ/תּוֹרָתְ/ךָ֥ו/מ/תורת/ך֥וּֽ/מִ/תּוֹרָתְ/ךָו/מ/תורת/ךu./mi./to.ra.te./Khaand/ from/ law/ yourH9002H9006H8451H9021HC+R+Ncfsc+Sp2ms תְלַמְּדֶֽ/נּוּ\׃תלמד/נו\תְלַמְּדֶֽ/נּוּ\׃תלמד/נו\te.lam.me.De./nuyou teach/ himH3925GH9033\H9016HVpi2ms+Sp3ms 13 to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
לְ/הַשְׁקִ֣יטל/השק֣יטלְ/הַשְׁקִיטל/השקיטle./hash.Kitto/ give quietH9005H8252HR+Vhcc מִ֣/ימֵימ֣/ימימִ/ימֵימ/ימיMi./meifrom/ days ofH9006H3117GHR+Ncmpc רָ֑ער֑ערָערעRa'troubleH7451BHAamsa עַ֤דע֤דעַדעד'aduntilH5704HR יִכָּרֶ֖היכר֖היִכָּרֶהיכרהyi.ka.Rehit will be dugH3738BHVNi3ms לָ/רָשָׁ֣על/רש֣עלָ/רָשָׁעל/רשעla./ra.Sha'for the/ wickedH9005H7563HRd+Ncmsa 14 For Yahweh will not abandon his people, nor forsake his inheritance.
יִטֹּ֣שׁיט֣שיִטֹּשׁיטשyi.Toshhe will abandonH5203HVqi3ms יְהוָ֣היהו֣היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehYahwehH3068GHNpt עַמּ֑/וֹעמ֑/ועַמּ/וֹעמ/וa.M/opeople/ hisH5971AH9023HNcmsc+Sp3ms וְ֝/נַחֲלָת֗/וֹו֝/נחלת֗/ווְ/נַחֲלָת/וֹו/נחלת/וve./na.cha.la.T/oand/ inheritance/ hisH9002H5159H9023HC+Ncfsc+Sp3ms לֹ֣אל֣אלֹאלאlo'notH3808HTn יַעֲזֹֽב\׃יעזב\יַעֲזֹֽב\׃יעזב\ya.'a.Zohe will forsakeH5800A\H9016HVqi3ms 15 For judgment will return to righteousness,1 and all the upright in heart will follow after it.
צֶ֭דֶקצ֭דקצֶדֶקצדקTze.dekrighteousnessH6664GHNcmsa יָשׁ֣וּביש֣וביָשׁוּבישובya.Shuvit will returnH7725GHVqi3ms מִשְׁפָּ֑טמשפ֑טמִשְׁפָּטמשפטmish.PatjudgmentH4941HHNcmsa וְ֝/אַחֲרָ֗י/וו֝/אחר֗י/ווְ/אַחֲרָי/וו/אחרי/וve./'a.cha.Ra/vand/ [will be] after/ itH9002H0310AH9033HC+Acmpc+Sp3ms יִשְׁרֵי\־ישרי\יִשְׁרֵי\־ישרי\yish.rei-[people] upright ofH3477G\H9014HAampc - That is, the court system will operate correctly
16 Who rose up for me against the wicked? Who stood up for me against the workers of iniquity?
יָק֣וּםיק֣וםיָקוּםיקוםya.Kumwill he rise upH6965BHVqi3ms מְרֵעִ֑יםמרע֑יםמְרֵעִיםמרעיםme.re.'Imevil-doersH7489AHVhrmpa יִתְיַצֵּ֥ביתיצ֥ביִתְיַצֵּביתיצבyit.ya.Tzevwill he take his standH3320HVti3ms פֹּ֥עֲלֵיפ֥עליפֹּעֲלֵיפעליPo.'a.lei[those who] doH6466HVqrmpc אָֽוֶן\׃און\אָֽוֶן\׃און\'A.ven<of> wickednessH0205G\H9016HNcmsa 17 If Yahweh had not been my help, my soul would soon have dwelt in silence.
לוּלֵ֣ילול֣ילוּלֵילוליlu.Leiif notH3884HTc יְ֭הוָהי֭הוהיְהוָהיהוהYah.wehYahwehH3068GHNpt עֶזְרָ֣תָהעזר֣תהעֶזְרָתָהעזרתה'ez.Ra.tah[had been] <to> a helpH5833HNcfsa כִּ/מְעַ֓ט\׀כ/מע֓ט\כִּ/מְעַט\׀כ/מעט\ki/m.'Atlike/ a littleH9004H4592\H9015HR+Ncmsa שָֽׁכְנָ֖השכנ֖השָֽׁכְנָהשכנהsha.khe.Nahit dweltH7931HVqp3fs דוּמָ֣הדומ֣הדוּמָהדומהdu.MahsilenceH1745HNcfsa 18 When I thought,1 “My foot is slipping,” your loyal love, O Yahweh, supported me.
אָ֭מַרְתִּיא֭מרתיאָמַרְתִּיאמרתי'A.mar.tiI saidH0559HVqp1cs מָ֣טָהמ֣טהמָטָהמטהMa.tahit has slippedH4131HVqp3fs רַגְלִ֑/ירגל֑/ירַגְלִ/ירגל/יrag.L/ifoot/ myH7272H9020HNcfsc+Sp1bs חַסְדְּ/ךָ֥חסד/ך֥חַסְדְּ/ךָחסד/ךchas.de./Khacovenant loyalty/ yourH2617AH9021HNcmsc+Sp2ms יְ֝הוָ֗הי֝הו֗היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehO YahwehH3068GHNpt יִסְעָדֵֽ/נִי\׃יסעד/ני\יִסְעָדֵֽ/נִי\׃יסעד/ני\yis.'a.De./niit supported/ meH5582H9030\H9016HVqi3ms+Sp1bs - Hebrew “If/When I said,” that is, said to myself
19 When my troubled thoughts were many ⌞within me⌟,1 your consolations cheered my soul.
בְּ/רֹ֣בב/ר֣בבְּ/רֹבב/רבbe./Roin/ [the] multitude ofH9003H7230HR+Ncmsc שַׂרְעַפַּ֣/ישרעפ֣/ישַׂרְעַפַּ/ישרעפ/יsar.'a.Pa/idisquieting thoughts/ myH8312H9020HNcmpc+Sp1bs בְּ/קִרְבִּ֑/יב/קרב֑/יבְּ/קִרְבִּ/יב/קרב/יbe./kir.B/iin/ inner being/ myH9003H7130HH9020HR+Ncmsc+Sp1bs תַּ֝נְחוּמֶ֗י/ךָת֝נחומ֗י/ךתַּנְחוּמֶי/ךָתנחומי/ךtan.chu.Mei./khaconsolations/ yourH8575H9021HNcmpc+Sp2ms יְֽשַׁעַשְׁע֥וּישעשע֥ויְֽשַׁעַשְׁעוּישעשעוye.sha.'ash.'Uthey delightedH8173BHVpi3mp - Literally “in my inward parts”
20 Can there be allied with you a throne of destruction, one that forms trouble based on statute?
הַֽ֭/יְחָבְרְ/ךָה֭/יחבר/ךהַֽ/יְחָבְרְ/ךָה/יחבר/ךHa/y.cha.ve.re./kha¿/ will it be joined to/ youH9008H2266H9031HTi+Vqi3ms+Sp2ms כִּסֵּ֣אכס֣אכִּסֵּאכסאki.Se'a throne ofH3678GHNcmsc הַוּ֑וֹתהו֑ותהַוּוֹתהוותha.Votdestruction<s>H1942HNcfpa יֹצֵ֖ריצ֖ריֹצֵריצרyo.Tzer[which] fashionsH3335IHVqrmsa עָמָ֣לעמ֣לעָמָלעמל'a.MalmischiefH5999HNcbsa 21 They band together against the life of the righteous, and declare the blameless guilty of blood.1
יָ֭גוֹדּוּי֭גודויָגוֹדּוּיגודוYa.go.duthey band togetherH1413HVqi3mp נֶ֣פֶשׁנ֣פשנֶפֶשׁנפשNe.fesh[the] life ofH5315HHNcfsc צַדִּ֑יקצד֑יקצַדִּיקצדיקtza.Dik[the] righteousH6662HAamsa וְ/דָ֖םו/ד֖םוְ/דָםו/דםve./Damand/ bloodH9002H1818HC+Ncmsa נָקִ֣ינק֣ינָקִינקיna.KiinnocentH5355AHAamsa יַרְשִֽׁיעוּ\׃ירשיעו\יַרְשִֽׁיעוּ\׃ירשיעו\yar.Shi.'uthey condemn as guiltyH7561\H9016HVhi3mp - Or “condemn innocent blood”
22 But Yahweh has become my high stronghold, and my God has become my rock of refuge.
וַ/יְהִ֬יו/יה֬יוַ/יְהִיו/יהיva/y.Hiand/ he has becomeH9001H1961Hc+Vqw3ms יְהוָ֣היהו֣היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehYahwehH3068GHNpt לְ/מִשְׂגָּ֑בל/משג֑בלְ/מִשְׂגָּבל/משגבle./mis.Gav<into>/ a refugeH9005H4869AHR+Ncmsa וֵ֝/אלֹהַ֗/יו֝/אלה֗/יוֵ/אלֹהַ/יו/אלה/יve./lo.Ha/iand/ God/ myH9002H0430GH9020HC+Ncmpc+Sp1bs לְ/צ֣וּרל/צ֣ורלְ/צוּרל/צורle./Tzur<into>/ [the] rock ofH9005H6697HHR+Ncmsc מַחְסִֽ/י\׃מחס/י\מַחְסִֽ/י\׃מחס/י\mach.S/ishelter/ myH4268H9020\H9016HNcmsc+Sp1bs 23 And he will repay on them their iniquity, and by1 their evil he will destroy them. Yahweh our God will destroy them.
וַ/יָּ֤שֶׁבו/י֤שבוַ/יָּשֶׁבו/ישבva/i.Ya.shevand/ he brought backH9001H7725GHc+Vhw3ms אוֹנָ֗/םאונ֗/םאוֹנָ/םאונ/ם'o.Na/mwickedness/ theirH0205GH9028HNcmsc+Sp3mp וּ/בְ/רָעָתָ֥/םו/ב/רעת֥/םוּ/בְ/רָעָתָ/םו/ב/רעת/םu./ve./ra.'a.Ta/mand/ in/ evil/ theirH9002H9003H7451IH9028HC+R+Ncfsc+Sp3mp יַצְמִיתֵ֑/םיצמית֑/םיַצְמִיתֵ/םיצמית/םyatz.mi.Te/mhe will destroy/ themH6789H9038HVhi3ms+Sp3mp יַ֝צְמִיתֵ֗/םי֝צמית֗/םיַצְמִיתֵ/םיצמית/םyatz.mi.Te/mhe will destroy/ themH6789H9038HVhi3ms+Sp3mp יְהוָ֥היהו֥היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehYahwehH3068GHNpt אֱלֹהֵֽי/נוּ\׃אלהי/נו\אֱלֹהֵֽי/נוּ\׃אלהי/נו\'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ ourH0430GH9025\H9016HNcmpc+Sp1bp - Or “in”