אֵל נְקָמוֹת ה' אֵל נְקָמוֹת הוֹפִיעַ: הִנָּשֵׂא שֹׁפֵט הָאָרֶץ הָשֵׁב גְּמוּל עַל גֵּאִים: עַד מָתַי רְשָׁעִים ה' עַד מָתַי רְשָׁעִים יַעֲלֹזוּ: יַבִּיעוּ יְדַבְּרוּ עָתָק יִתְאַמְּרוּ כָּל פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן: עַמְּךָ ה' יְדַכְּאוּ וְנַחֲלָתְךָ יְעַנּוּ: אַלְמָנָה וְגֵר יַהֲרֹגוּ וִיתוֹמִים יְרַצֵּחוּ: וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא יִרְאֶה יָּהּ וְלֹא יָבִין אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב:
God of retribution, LORD, God of retribution, appear! Rise up, judge of the earth, give the arrogant their deserts! How long shall the wicked, O LORD, how long shall the wicked exult, shall they utter insolent speech, shall all evildoers vaunt themselves? They crush Your people, O LORD, they afflict Your very own; they kill the widow and the stranger; they murder the widow, thinking, "The LORD does not see it, the God of Jacob does not pay heed."
[JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What evils has the society being condemned committed, and against whom?
2. Why does this text turn to God to bring sinners to justice? Are there others ways of restoring justice in our society today?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)