ASV
Psalms 94
1O Jehovah, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, Thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, shine forth.
2Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: Render to the proud [their] desert.
3Jehovah, how long shall the wicked, How long shall the wicked triumph?
4They prate, they speak arrogantly: All the workers of iniquity boast themselves.
5They break in pieces thy people, O Jehovah, And afflict thy heritage.
6They slay the widow and the sojourner, And murder the fatherless.
7And they say, Jehovah will not see, Neither will the God of Jacob consider.
8Consider, ye brutish among the people; And ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10He that chastiseth the nations, shall not he correct, [Even] he that teacheth man knowledge?
11Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity.
12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Jehovah, And teachest out of thy law;
13That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14For Jehovah will not cast off his people, Neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15For judgment shall return unto righteousness; And all the upright in heart shall follow it.
16Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17Unless Jehovah had been my help, My soul had soon dwelt in silence.
18When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, held me up.
19In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.
20Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by statute?
21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn the innocent blood.
22But Jehovah hath been my high tower, And my God the rock of my refuge.
23And he hath brought upon them their own iniquity, And will cut them off in their own wickedness; Jehovah our God will cut them off.
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Afflictions and Adversities: Benefits of Psalm 94:12, 13
Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law, / to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
Afflictions and Adversities: Consolation In Psalm 94:17–19
Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. / If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me. / When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.
Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Psalm 94:1–23
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth. / Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud. / How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?
Anthropomorphisms: Miscellaneous Figures Psalm 94:9
He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?
Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 94:7
They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”
Blessing: Spiritual, from God Psalm 94:17, 18
Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. / If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
Blindness: Spiritual Psalm 94:7, 8
They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.” / Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
Boasting: Spiritual Psalm 94:4
They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.
Character of the Wicked: Murderous Psalm 94:6
They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
Chastisement: from God Psalm 94:12, 13
Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law, / to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
Condemnation: Chastisements are Designed to Rescue Us From Psalm 94:12, 13
Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law, / to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
Consolation Under Affliction: To the Troubled in Mind Psalm 94:19
When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.
Delighting in God: Saints' Experience in The Comforts of God Psalm 94:19
When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.
Depravity of Man: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 94:11
The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
Desire: Spiritual Psalm 94:19
When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.
Faith: Exemplified Psalm 94:14, 15, 17, 18, 22
For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage. / Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. / Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.
Fatherless: The Wicked: Murder Psalm 94:6
They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
Gentiles: Chastised by God Psalm 94:10
He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?
God: Creator of Man Psalm 94:9
He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?
God: Faithfulness of Psalm 94:14
For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.
God: Grace of Psalm 94:19
When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.
God: Judge, and his Justice Psalm 94:1, 2, 10
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth. / Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud. / He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?
God: Knowledge of Psalm 94:7
They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”
God: Preserver Psalm 94:13
to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Psalms 94:1-11 Verses 1-11
We may with boldness appeal to God; for he is the almighty Judge by whom every man is judged. Let this encourage those who suffer wrong, to bear it with silence, committing themselves to Him who judges righteously. These prayers are prophecies, which speak terror to the sons of violence. There will come a day of reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against God, his truths, and ways, and people. It would hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand, and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God would not punish the abuse of his gifts. As all knowledge is from God, no doubt he knows all the thoughts of the children of men, and knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men's hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good thoughts there is a want of being fixed, which may be called vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts, because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words to God.
Psalms 94:12-23 Verses 12-23
That man is blessed, who, under the chastening of the Lord, is taught his will and his truths, from his holy word, and by the Holy Spirit. He should see mercy through his sufferings. There is a rest remaining for the people of God after the days of their adversity, which shall not last always. He that sends the trouble, will send the rest. The psalmist found succour and relief only in the Lord, when all earthly friends failed. We are beholden, not only to God's power, but to his pity, for spiritual supports; and if we have been kept from falling into sin, or shrinking from our duty, we should give him the glory, and encourage our brethren. The psalmist had many troubled thoughts concerning the case he was in, concerning the course he should take, and what was likely to be the end of it. The indulgence of such contrivances and fears, adds to care and distrust, and renders our views more gloomy and confused. Good men sometimes have perplexed and distressed thoughts concerning God. But let them look to the great and precious promises of the gospel. The world's comforts give little delight to the soul, when hurried with melancholy thoughts; but God's comforts bring that peace and pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give, and which the frowns of the world cannot take away. God is his people's Refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe, and may be secure. And he will reckon with the wicked. A man cannot be more miserable than his own wickedness will make him, if the Lord visit it upon him.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Psalms 94:1-2 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
God's revenge is His judicial infliction of righteous punishment. show thyself--(Compare Margin).
Psalms 94:1-23 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
enemies, rebukes them for their wickedness and folly, and encourages himself, in the confidence that God will punish evildoers, and favor His people.
Psalms 94:2 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
Lift up thyself--or, "Arise," both figures representing God as heretofore indifferent (compare Ps 3:7; 22:16, 20).
Psalms 94:3-4 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
In an earnest expostulation he expresses his desire that the insolent triumph of the wicked may be ended.
Psalms 94:5-6 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
thy people [and] thine heritage--are synonymous, the people being often called God's heritage. As justice to the weak is a sign of the best government, their oppression is a sign of the worst (De 10:18; Isa 10:2).
Psalms 94:7 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
Their cruelty is only exceeded by their wicked and absurd presumption (Ps 10:11; 59:7).
Psalms 94:8 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
ye brutish--(Compare Ps 73:22; 92:6). 9-11. The evidence of God's providential government is found in His creative power and omniscience, which also assure us that He can punish the wicked in regard to all their vain purposes.
Psalms 94:12-13 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
On the other hand He favors though He chastens, the pious, and will teach and preserve them till the prosperous wicked are overthrown.
Psalms 94:14-15 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
This results from His abiding love (De 32:15), which is further evinced by His restoring order in His government, whose right administration will be approved by the good.
Psalms 94:16 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
These questions imply that none other than God will help (Ps 60:9), 17-19. a fact fully confirmed by his past experience. dwelt in silence--as in the grave (Ps 31:17).
Psalms 94:19 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
my thoughts--or, anxious cares.
Psalms 94:20 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
throne--power, rulers. iniquity [and] mischief--both denote evils done to others, as Ps 94:21 explains.
Psalms 94:22-23 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
Yet he is safe in God's care. defence--(Ps 59:9). rock of ... refuge--(Ps 9:9; 18:2).
Psalms 94:23 The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of
bring ... iniquity--(Compare Ps 5:10; 7:16). in their ... wickedness--while they are engaged in evil doing. PSALM 95