BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 94

Psalms book home•Chapter 94 of 150•23 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Psalms 94 Overview

The psalm asks God to avenge arrogant oppressors who crush the vulnerable, rebukes fools who think God cannot see, values divine correction, and trusts God as defense against wicked rulers.

PsalmsBook

94Chapter

23Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Psalms 94

Coming from

Psalm 93 centered on the lord reigns above the floods. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

The psalm asks God to avenge arrogant oppressors who crush the vulnerable, rebukes fools who think God cannot see, values divine correction, and trusts God as defense against wicked rulers.

Leads into

Psalm 95 turns to come worship—but do not harden your heart, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 94 belongs to Book IV of the Psalter (Psalms 90–106). “Vengeance” is placed in God's hands as Judge; the psalm does not authorize personal retaliation.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

The Judge of the earth sees oppressive injustice.

Judgment truth

In Psalm 94, moral judgment finally belongs to God, who sees what human courts and observers may miss.

Wisdom truth

In Psalm 94, godly wisdom evaluates life by the LORD’s revealed moral order rather than by appearances alone.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Judgment connection

Deuteronomy 32:35 reserves vengeance to God. This connection helps frame Psalm 94.

Wisdom connection

James 1:5 directs those who lack wisdom to ask God, the giver of wisdom. This connection helps frame Psalm 94.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep judgment in context

Distinguish the temporal, national, and judicial settings in Psalm 94 from final eternal judgment where the text itself does not equate them.

Keep wisdom in context

Do not turn a wisdom contrast in Psalm 94 into a mechanical formula that guarantees immediate earthly outcomes in every case.

Read Psalms 94 watching for…

God to whom vengeance.

widow stranger fatherless.

he that planted ear.

blessed chastening.

shall throne of iniquity fellowship.

Chapter outline2 sections

1-11The psalmist asks the God of vengeance to judge proud oppressors who think he does not see 12-23God’s correction is blessed, he will not forsake his people, and he becomes their defense against evil rulers

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.

They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.

Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.

In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.