The Lord Will Not Forget His People

1A Psalm of David for the fourth day of the week. The Lord is a God of vengeance; the God of vengeance has declared himself.

2Be thou exalted, thou that judgest the earth: render a reward to the proud.

3How long shall sinners, O Lord, how long shall sinners boast?

4They will utter and speak unrighteousness; all the workers of iniquity will speak so.

5They have afflicted thy people, O Lord, and hurt thine heritage.

6They have slain the widow and fatherless, and murdered the stranger.

7And they said, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob understand.

8Understand now, ye simple among the people; and ye fools, at length be wise.

9He that planted the ear, does he not hear? or he that formed the eye, does not he perceive?

10He that chastises the heathen, shall not he punish, even he that teaches man knowledge?

11The Lord knows the thoughts of men, that they are vain.

12Blessed is the man whomsoever thou shalt chasten, O Lord, and shalt teach him out of thy law;

13to give him rest from evil days, until a pit be digged for the sinful one.

14For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance;

15until righteousness return to judgment, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Pause.

16Who will rise up for me against the transgressors? or who will stand up with me against the workers of iniquity?

17If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had almost sojourned in Hades.

18If I said, My foot has been moved;

19thy mercy, O Lord, helped me. O Lord, according to the multitude of my griefs within my heart, thy consolation have soothed my soul.

20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frames mischief by an ordinance?

21They will hunt for the soul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.

22But the Lord was my refuge; and my God the helper of my hope.

23And he will recompense to them their iniquity and their wickedness: the Lord our God shall utterly destroy them.