1 O Lord God, unto whom aloneall vengeance doth belong;O mighty God, who vengeance own'st,shine forth, avenging wrong.
2 Lift up thyself, thou of the earththe sov'reign Judge that art;And unto those that are so prouda due reward impart.
3 How long, O mighty God, shall theywho lewd and wicked be,How long shall they who wicked arethus triumph haughtily?
4 How long shall things most hard by thembe uttered and told?And all that work iniquityto boast themselves be bold?
5 Thy folk they break in pieces, Lord,thine heritage oppress:
6 The widow they and stranger slay,and kill the fatherless.
7 Yet say they, God it shall not see,nor God of Jacob know.
8 Ye brutish people! understand;fools! when wise will ye grow?
9 The Lord did plant the ear of man,and hear then shall not he?He only form'd the eye, andthen shall he not clearly see?
10 He that the nations doth correct,shall he not chastise you?He knowledge unto man doth teach,and shall himself not know?
11 Man's thoughts to be but vanitythe Lord doth well discern.
12 Bless'd is the man thou chast'nest, Lord,and mak'st thy law to learn:
13 That thou may'st give him rest from daysof sad adversity,Until the pit be digg'd for thosethat work iniquity.
14 For sure the Lord will not cast offthose that his people be,Neither his own inheritancequit and forsake will he:
15 But judgment unto righteousnessshall yet return again;And all shall follow after itthat are right-hearted men.
16 Who will rise up for me againstthose that do wickedly?Who will stand up for me 'gainst thosethat work iniquity?
17 Unless the Lord had been my helpwhen I was sore opprest,Almost my soul had in the houseof silence been at rest.
18 When I had uttered this word,(my foot doth slip away,)Thy mercy held me up, O Lord,thy goodness did me stay.
19 Amidst the multitude of thoughtswhich in my heart do fight,My soul, lest it be overcharg'd,thy comforts do delight.
20 Shall of iniquity the thronehave fellowship with thee,Which mischief, cunningly contriv'd,doth by a law decree?
21 Against the righteous souls they join,they guiltless blood condemn.
22 But of my refuge God's the rock,and my defence from them.
23 On them their own iniquitythe Lord shall bring and lay,And cut them off in their own sin;our Lord God shall them slay.