1 O Lord, the God to whom alone
all vengeance doth belong;
thou, who the God of vengeance art,
shine forth, avenging wrong.
2 Lift up thyself, thou of the earth
the sovereign judge that art;
and unto those that haughty are
a recompense impart.

3 How long, Jehovah, shall the men
who evil-doers be,
how long shall they who wicked are
thus triumph haughtily?
4 How long shall grievous things be them
be uttered and told?
And all that work iniquity
to boast themselves be bold?

5 Thy folk they break in pieces, Lord,
thine heritage oppress;
6 the widow and the stranger slay,
and kill the fatherless
7 yet say, The Lord shall not perceive,
nor God of Jacob know.
8 Ye brutish people! understand;
fools! when wise will ye grow?

9 Shall he who plants the ear of man
to hear unable be?
and he who fashioneth the eye,
shall he not clearly see?
10 He who the nations doth correct,
shall he reproof not show?
he that doth knowledge teach to man,
shall he himself not know?

11 Man's thoughts to be but vanity
the Lord doth well discern.
12 Blessed is the man thou chastenest, Lord,
and mak'st thy law to learn:
13 that thou mayest give him rest from days
of sad adversity,
until the pit be digged for those
that work iniquity.

14 Because the Lord will not cast off
those that his people be,
nor yet his own inheritance
forsake at all will he:
15 but judgment unto righteousness
shall yet return again,
and all shall follow after it
that are right-hearted men.

16 Who will rise up for me against
those that do wickedly?
Who will stand up for me 'gainst those that work iniquity?
17 Unless the Lord had been my help,
my soul in death had lain;
18 but if I say, My foot doth slip,
thy love doth me sustain.

19 Amidst the multitude of cares
whereby I am oppressed,
thy comforts, Lord, refresh my soul,
thy mercies give me rest.
20 Shall of iniquity the throne
have fellowship with thee,
which mischief, cunningly contrived,
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 iniquity
the Lord shall cause to fall,
and in their sin shall cut them off;
our God destroy them shall.