God to Whom Vengeance Belongs
Psalm 94 summary: what it means
Psalm 94 is a call for justice. It opens by asking the God to whom vengeance belongs to shine out and pay back the proud. Then it asks how long the wicked will triumph, and describes them: arrogant, boasting, crushing God's people, killing the widow, the alien and the fatherless, and saying the LORD will not see. The psalm answers with a question: the one who made the ear and the eye, will he not hear and see?
The second half becomes personal. The speaker calls blessed the person God disciplines and teaches, and says the LORD will not reject his people. He admits his foot was slipping and his thoughts were many, but God's loving kindness held him up and his comforts delighted his soul. It ends with the LORD as his high tower and rock of refuge.
Psalm 94: God to Whom Vengeance Belongs
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-94
Psalm 94 commentary: explained verse by verse
LORD, you God to whom vengeance belongs,you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out.
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
The psalm opens by naming God twice as the one to whom vengeance belongs, and asks him to shine out. Vengeance is left to God rather than taken by the speaker. The request is for God to show himself.
Also read Psalm 80:1, Nahum 1:2, Deuteronomy 32:41-42, 2 Thessalonians 1:8
Rise up, you judge of the earth.Pay back the proud what they deserve.
Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
Also read Micah 5:9, Genesis 18:25, Daniel 5:22-24, John 5:22-23
LORD, how long will the wicked,how long will the wicked triumph?
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
Also read Esther 7:10, Psalm 89:46, Job 20:5, Psalm 80:4
They pour out arrogant words.All the evildoers boast.
How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
The wicked pour out arrogant words, and all the evildoers boast. The first thing the psalm describes about them is how they talk. Their pride is heard before their actions are listed.
Also read Daniel 7:25, Daniel 7:11, Jude 1:14-15, Isaiah 10:13-15
They break your people in pieces, LORD,and afflict your heritage.
They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
Also read Psalm 129:2-3, Psalm 14:4, Psalm 74:8, Psalm 74:19-20
They kill the widow and the alien,and murder the fatherless.
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
Also read Jeremiah 7:6, Ezekiel 22:7, Jeremiah 22:3, Isaiah 13:15-18
They say, “The LORD will not see,neither will Jacob’s God consider.”
Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
Also read Luke 18:3-4, Ezekiel 9:9, Psalm 59:7, Zephaniah 1:12
Consider, you senseless among the people;you fools, when will you be wise?
Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
Also read Isaiah 27:11, Proverbs 8:5, Jeremiah 8:6-8, Titus 3:3
He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear?He who formed the eye, won’t he see?
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
The psalm answers the claim that God does not see with two questions. He who implanted the ear, will he not hear. He who formed the eye, will he not see.
Also read Proverbs 20:12, Psalm 139:1-12, Exodus 4:11, Psalm 44:21
He who disciplines the nations, won’t he punish?He who teaches man knows.
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
Also read Psalm 135:8-12, Amos 3:2, Psalm 9:5, Psalm 44:2
The LORD knows the thoughts of man,that they are futile.
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
The LORD knows human thoughts and knows they are futile. The wicked of verse 7 think God is not paying attention. This verse says he knows even their thinking.
Also read 1 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Corinthians 1:25, 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 Corinthians 3:20
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, LORD,and teach out of your law,
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
The person God disciplines and teaches from his law is called blessed. Discipline is presented as a gift, not a punishment. It is the first personal note after the complaint.
Also read Hebrews 12:5-11, Revelation 3:19, Psalm 119:67, Deuteronomy 8:5
that you may give him rest from the days of adversity,until the pit is dug for the wicked.
That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
The purpose of that teaching is to give rest from the days of adversity. That rest lasts until a pit is dug for the wicked. The person is steadied while waiting for justice.
Also read Isaiah 26:20-21, Psalm 9:15, 2 Peter 3:3-7, Revelation 11:18
For the LORD won’t reject his people,neither will he forsake his inheritance.
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
The LORD will not reject his people or forsake his inheritance. This is the psalm's central promise. It answers the fear that God has left them to the wicked.
Also read Romans 8:38-39, Isaiah 49:14-15, Psalm 94:5, 1 Samuel 12:22
For judgment will return to righteousness.All the upright in heart shall follow it.
But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
Also read Psalm 125:3-5, Malachi 3:18, 1 John 2:19, Psalm 9:16
Who will rise up for me against the wicked?Who will stand up for me against the evildoers?
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Two questions ask who will rise up and stand up for the speaker against the wicked. They express how alone he feels. The next verse gives the answer.
Also read 2 Kings 10:15, Ezekiel 22:30, 2 Kings 9:32, Numbers 10:35
Unless the LORD had been my help,my soul would have soon lived in silence.
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Unless the LORD had helped him, the speaker says, his soul would soon have lived in silence. The verse does not describe the danger in detail. It gives all the credit for being spared to God's help.
Also read Psalm 124:1-2, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, Psalm 115:17, Psalm 142:4-5
When I said, “My foot is slipping!”Your loving kindness, LORD, held me up.
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
Also read 1 Samuel 2:9, Psalm 73:2, 1 Peter 1:5, Luke 22:32
In the multitude of my thoughts within me,your comforts delight my soul.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
When his thoughts multiplied within him, God's comforts delighted his soul. The verse is honest about a crowded, anxious mind. Relief comes as comfort from God while the thoughts are still there.
Also read Psalm 73:12-16, Psalm 77:2-10, 1 Peter 1:7-8, Psalm 61:2
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you,which brings about mischief by statute?
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute? The question points at wrong done through rule and law, not only by individuals, and it expects the answer no. Verses 21 to 23 follow it through: that throne gathers against the righteous, the LORD is a high tower, and the wicked are cut off. The KJV reads frameth mischief by a law.
Also read 1 Samuel 22:12, Jeremiah 7:4-11, Esther 3:6-12, 1 Kings 12:32
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,and condemn the innocent blood.
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Also read Matthew 27:4, Acts 7:58-60, Proverbs 17:15, Matthew 27:1
But the LORD has been my high tower,my God, the rock of my refuge.
But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
The LORD has been his high tower, and God is the rock of his refuge. Both images are places of safety. The psalm moves from asking for justice to resting in protection.
Also read Psalm 59:16-17, Psalm 62:6, Psalm 62:2, Psalm 27:1-3
He has brought on them their own iniquity,and will cut them off in their own wickedness.The LORD, our God, will cut them off.
And 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.
The psalm ends with judgement on the wicked. God brings their own iniquity back on them and cuts them off in their wickedness. The line that the LORD will cut them off is said twice.
Also read Psalm 9:16-17, 1 Samuel 26:10-11, Proverbs 14:32, Proverbs 2:22
A prayer from Psalm 94
LORD, judge of the earth, I bring you the wrongs I see. The proud boast, and the widow, the stranger and the fatherless are harmed, while some say you do not see. You formed the eye and planted the ear, so you see and you hear. Teach me out of your law, and give me rest in days of adversity. When my foot is slipping, let your loving kindness hold me up. When my thoughts crowd in on me, let your comforts delight my soul. Be my high tower and the rock of my refuge. I leave judgement in your hands. Amen.
Psalm 94 Bible study questions
- In verse 6, which people do the wicked harm?
- In verse 7, what do the wicked say about God, and how do verses 9 and 10 answer them?
- Verse 18 describes a foot slipping and loving kindness holding it up; what does that picture bring to mind for you?
- The psalm asks how long in verse 3; how do you think honest complaint and trust can sit together in prayer?
- Psalm 73:2 also speaks of feet that nearly slipped; how does it compare with Psalm 94:18?
Questions about Psalm 94
Who wrote Psalm 94?
The psalm has no heading, so its author is not named in the text.
What is Psalm 94 about?
It is a prayer for God to judge arrogant people who crush the weak and think God does not see. It turns into personal trust, with God as the speaker's help, comfort and rock of refuge.
What does Psalm 94:1 mean?
It calls on God as the one to whom vengeance belongs and asks him to shine out. It leaves justice in God's hands.
What does Psalm 94:14 mean?
It promises that the LORD will not reject his people or forsake his inheritance, even when the wicked seem to be winning.
What does Psalm 94:19 mean?
It describes a mind crowded with anxious thoughts, and says God's comforts delight the speaker's soul in the middle of them. The comfort comes while the thoughts are still there.
What does Psalm 94:19 say in the KJV?
The King James Version reads: "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul."
Psalm 94 KJV: the King James Version
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.1
Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.2
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?3
How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?4
They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.5
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.6
Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.7
Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?8
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?9
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?10
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.11
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;12
That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.13
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.14
But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.15
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?16
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.17
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.18
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.19
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?20
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.21
But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.22
And 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.23
Psalm 94 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 אֵל־נְקָמ֥וֹת יְהוָ֑ה אֵ֖ל נְקָמ֣וֹת הוֹפִֽיַע׃
2 הִ֭נָּשֵׂא שֹׁפֵ֣ט הָאָ֑רֶץ הָשֵׁ֥ב גְּ֝מ֗וּל עַל־גֵּאִֽים׃
3 עַד־מָתַ֖י רְשָׁעִ֥ים ׀ יְהוָ֑ה עַד־מָ֝תַ֗י רְשָׁעִ֥ים יַעֲלֹֽזוּ׃
4 יַבִּ֣יעוּ יְדַבְּר֣וּ עָתָ֑ק יִֽ֝תְאַמְּר֗וּ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
5 עַמְּךָ֣ יְהוָ֣ה יְדַכְּא֑וּ וְֽנַחֲלָתְךָ֥ יְעַנּֽוּ׃
6 אַ֭לְמָנָה וְגֵ֣ר יַהֲרֹ֑גוּ וִֽיתוֹמִ֣ים יְרַצֵּֽחוּ׃
7 וַ֭יֹּ֣אמְרוּ לֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־יָּ֑הּ וְלֹא־יָ֝בִ֗ין אֱלֹהֵ֥י יַעֲקֹֽב׃
8 בִּ֭ינוּ בֹּעֲרִ֣ים בָּעָ֑ם וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים מָתַ֥י תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ׃
9 הֲנֹ֣טַֽע אֹ֭זֶן הֲלֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִֽם־יֹ֥צֵֽר עַ֝֗יִן הֲלֹ֣א יַבִּֽיט׃
10 הֲיֹסֵ֣ר גּ֭וֹיִם הֲלֹ֣א יוֹכִ֑יחַ הַֽמְלַמֵּ֖ד אָדָ֣ם דָּֽעַת׃
11 יְֽהוָ֗ה יֹ֭דֵעַ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת אָדָ֑ם כִּי־הֵ֥מָּה הָֽבֶל׃
12 אַשְׁרֵ֤י ׀ הַגֶּ֣בֶר אֲשֶׁר־תְּיַסְּרֶ֣נּוּ יָּ֑הּ וּֽמִתּוֹרָתְךָ֥ תְלַמְּדֶֽנּוּ׃
13 לְהַשְׁקִ֣יט ל֭וֹ מִ֣ימֵי רָ֑ע עַ֤ד יִכָּרֶ֖ה לָרָשָׁ֣ע שָֽׁחַת׃
14 כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־יִטֹּ֣שׁ יְהוָ֣ה עַמּ֑וֹ וְ֝נַחֲלָת֗וֹ לֹ֣א יַעֲזֹֽב׃
15 כִּֽי־עַד־צֶ֭דֶק יָשׁ֣וּב מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וְ֝אַחֲרָ֗יו כָּל־יִשְׁרֵי־ לֵֽב׃
16 מִֽי־יָק֣וּם לִ֭י עִם־מְרֵעִ֑ים מִֽי־יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב לִ֝י עִם־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
17 לוּלֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה עֶזְרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י כִּמְעַ֓ט ׀ שָֽׁכְנָ֖ה דוּמָ֣ה נַפְשִֽׁי׃
18 אִם־אָ֭מַרְתִּי מָ֣טָה רַגְלִ֑י חַסְדְּךָ֥ יְ֝הוָ֗ה יִסְעָדֵֽנִי׃
19 בְּרֹ֣ב שַׂרְעַפַּ֣י בְּקִרְבִּ֑י תַּ֝נְחוּמֶ֗יךָ יְֽשַׁעַשְׁע֥וּ נַפְשִֽׁי׃
20 הַֽ֭יְחָבְרְךָ כִּסֵּ֣א הַוּ֑וֹת יֹצֵ֖ר עָמָ֣ל עֲלֵי־חֹֽק׃
21 יָ֭גוֹדּוּ עַל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ צַדִּ֑יק וְדָ֖ם נָקִ֣י יַרְשִֽׁיעוּ׃
22 וַיְהִ֬י יְהוָ֣ה לִ֣י לְמִשְׂגָּ֑ב וֵ֝אלֹהַ֗י לְצ֣וּר מַחְסִֽי׃
23 וַיָּ֤שֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ אֶת־אוֹנָ֗ם וּבְרָעָתָ֥ם יַצְמִיתֵ֑ם יַ֝צְמִיתֵ֗ם יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
Psalm 94 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 93 there.
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1 The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongeth: the God of revenge hath acted freely.
2 Lift up thyself, thou that judgest the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3 How long shall sinners, O Lord: how long shall sinners glory?
4 Shall they utter, and speak iniquity: shall all speak who work injustice?
5 Thy people, O Lord, they have brought low: and they have afflicted thy inheritance.
6 They have slain the widow and the stranger: and they have murdered the fatherless.
7 And they have said: The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God of Jacob understand.
8 Understand, ye senseless among the people: and, you fools, be wise at last.
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the eye, doth he not consider?
10 He that chastiseth nations, shall he not rebuke: he that teacheth man knowledge?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are vain.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord: and shalt teach him out of thy law.
13 That thou mayst give him rest from the evil days: till a pit be dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off his people: neither will he forsake his own inheritance.
15 Until justice be turned into judgment: and they that are near it are all the upright in heart.
16 Who shall rise up for me against the evildoers? or who shall stand with me against the workers of iniquity?
17 Unless the Lord had been my helper, my soul had almost dwelt in hell.
18 If I said: My foot is moved: thy mercy, O Lord, assisted me.
19 According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy comforts have given joy to my soul.
20 Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee, who framest labour in commandment?
21 They will hunt after the soul of the just, and will condemn innocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my refuge: and my God the help of my hope.
23 And he will render them their iniquity: and in their malice he will destroy them: the Lord our God will destroy them.
Psalm 94 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 93.
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1 Psalmus ipsi David, quarta sabbati. Deus ultionum Dominus; Deus ultionum libere egit.
2 Exaltare, qui judicas terram; redde retributionem superbis.
3 Usquequo peccatores, Domine, usquequo peccatores gloriabuntur;
4 effabuntur et loquentur iniquitatem; loquentur omnes qui operantur injustitiam?
5 Populum tuum, Domine, humiliaverunt, et hæreditatem tuam vexaverunt.
6 Viduam et advenam interfecerunt, et pupillos occiderunt.
7 Et dixerunt: Non videbit Dominus, nec intelliget Deus Jacob.
8 Intelligite, insipientes in populo; et stulti, aliquando sapite.
9 Qui plantavit aurem non audiet? aut qui finxit oculum non considerat?
10 Qui corripit gentes non arguet, qui docet hominem scientiam?
11 Dominus scit cogitationes hominum, quoniam vanæ sunt.
12 Beatus homo quem tu erudieris, Domine, et de lege tua docueris eum:
13 ut mitiges ei a diebus malis, donec fodiatur peccatori fovea.
14 Quia non repellet Dominus plebem suam, et hæreditatem suam non derelinquet,
15 quoadusque justitia convertatur in judicium: et qui juxta illam, omnes qui recto sunt corde.
16 Quis consurget mihi adversus malignantes? aut quis stabit mecum adversus operantes iniquitatem?
17 Nisi quia Dominus adjuvit me, paulominus habitasset in inferno anima mea.
18 Si dicebam: Motus est pes meus: misericordia tua, Domine, adjuvabat me.
19 Secundum multitudinem dolorum meorum in corde meo, consolationes tuæ lætificaverunt animam meam.
20 Numquid adhæret tibi sedes iniquitatis, qui fingis laborem in præcepto?
21 Captabunt in animam justi, et sanguinem innocentem condemnabunt.
22 Et factus est mihi Dominus in refugium, et Deus meus in adjutorium spei meæ.
23 Et reddet illis iniquitatem ipsorum, et in malitia eorum disperdet eos: disperdet illos Dominus Deus noster.
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Psalm 94 at a glance
| Verses | 23 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | Not named in the text. The psalm has no heading. |
| Type | Lament and Trust |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 93 |
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Psalm 94 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 94 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 94 belongs
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source