The LORD Will Not Forget His People

¹O LORD, God of vengeance,

O God of vengeance, shine forth.

²Rise up, O Judge of the earth;

render a reward to the proud.

³How long will the wicked, O LORD,

how long will the wicked exult?

⁴They pour out arrogant words;

all workers of iniquity boast.

⁵They crush Your people, O LORD;

they oppress Your heritage.

⁶They kill the widow and the foreigner;

they murder the fatherless.

⁷They say, “The LORD does not see;

the God of Jacob pays no heed.”

⁸Take notice, O senseless among the people!

O fools, when will you be wise?

⁹He who affixed the ear, can He not hear?

He who formed the eye, can He not see?

¹⁰He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline?

He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?

¹¹The LORD knows the thoughts of man,

that they are futile.^a

¹²Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD,

and teach from Your law,

¹³to grant him relief from days of trouble,

until a pit is dug for the wicked.

¹⁴For the LORD will not forsake His people;

He will never abandon His heritage.

¹⁵Surely judgment will again be righteous,

and all the upright in heart will follow it.

¹⁶Who will rise up for me against the wicked?

Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?

¹⁷Unless the LORD had been my helper,

I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

¹⁸If I say, “My foot is slipping,”

Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.

¹⁹When anxiety overwhelms me,

Your consolation delights my soul.

²⁰Can a corrupt throne be Your ally —

one devising mischief by decree?

²¹They band together against the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.^b

²²But the LORD has been my stronghold,

and my God is my rock of refuge.

²³He will bring upon them their own iniquity

and destroy them for their wickedness.

The LORD our God will destroy them.