O LORD, my God, God who avenges, shine Your light.

Stand up, Judge of all the earth & give the proud
what they deserve.

We’re so tired of seeing the wicked have their fun
and wreak their havoc while so many good people
suffer at their hands.

They make evil assumptions,
They spread their rumors,
They tell their lies & never once
reflect on their own arrogance & spitefulness.

They enrage us & they crush Your people, LORD,
and hamstring the church.

They don’t stop to think that You see & why should they,
for it looks for all the world like You intend to let them
get away with it all.

Give us patience to wait for You & trust Your justice
and Your timing.

You formed the ear & You hear everything.
You fashioned the eye & You see all.
You discipline whole nations & You are adequate
to teach puny haters a lesson.

You know the thoughts of man, LORD.
You know that they are futile.

Let us be the person You discipline,
O LORD, let us be the person
You teach from Your Word;
grant us relief from the machinations
of petty people & surround us with protection.

We know You will not reject us
You will not forsake us
You will not let us be ravaged
by wolves in sheeps’ clothing.

You Yourself will rise up against the wicked.
You yourself will stand against evildoers.

How many times would we have been lost if you,
LORD, had not given us help?
How many times, when our foot was slipping,
did Your loving hand reach out to us & find us
and lift us to safety?

When depression drags us down,
Your consolation brings joy to our soul.

We entrust to You all those who band together
against us all those who condemn us

You are our fortress,
You are our rock
You shelter us from harm.
We trust You to save us & our loved ones
from all who seek our destruction, in Jesus’ name

Psalms 94 paraphrased