Study Desk

O Lord , God of ^[a](a)vengeance, God of ^[b]vengeance, ^[c](b)shine forth!

^(c)Rise up, O ^(d)Judge of the earth, Render recompense ^(e)to the proud.

How long shall the wicked, O Lord , How long shall the ^(f)wicked exult?

They pour forth words, they ^(g)speak arrogantly; All who do wickedness ^(h)vaunt themselves.

They ⁽ⁱ⁾crush Your people, O Lord , And ^(j)afflict Your heritage.

They ^(k)slay the widow and the ^[d]stranger And murder the orphans.

^(l)They have said, "^[e]The Lord does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob pay heed."

Pay heed, you ^(m)senseless among the people; And when will you understand, ⁽ⁿ⁾stupid ones?

He who ^(o)planted the ear, ^[f]does He not hear? He who formed the eye, ^[g]does He not see?

He who ^[h](p)chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, Even He who ^(q)teaches man knowledge?

The Lord ^(r)knows the thoughts of man, ^[i]That they are a mere breath.

Blessed is the man whom ^(s)You chasten, O ^[j] Lord , And ^(t)whom You teach out of Your law;

That You may grant him ^(u)relief from the ^(v)days of adversity, Until ^(w)a pit is dug for the wicked.

For ^(x)the Lord will not abandon His people, Nor will He ^(y)forsake His inheritance.

For ^[k](z)judgment ^[l]will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart ^[m]will follow it.

Who will ^(aa)stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me ^(ab)against those who do wickedness?

If ^(ac)the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

If I should say, "^(ad)My foot has slipped," Your lovingkindness, O Lord , will hold me up.

When my anxious thoughts ^[n]multiply within me, Your ^(ae)consolations delight my soul.

Can a ^[o](af)throne of destruction be allied with You, One ^(ag)which devises ^[p]mischief by decree?

They ^(ah)band themselves together against the ^[q]life of the righteous And ^(ai)condemn ^[r]the innocent to death.

But the Lord has been my ^(aj)stronghold, And my God the ^(ak)rock of my refuge.

He has ^(al)brought back their wickedness upon them And will ^[s](am)destroy them in their evil; The Lord our God will ^[t]destroy them.