Page:Philip Birnbaum - ha-Siddur ha-Shalem (The Daily Prayer Book,1949).pdf/169

144

This is the fourth day of the week, on which the Levites in the Temple used to recite:

God of retribution, Lord God of retribution, appear! Arise, thou judge of the earth, render to the arrogant what they deserve. How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult? They bluster, they speak arrogantly; all the evildoers act boastfully. They crush thy people, O Lord, and afflict thy heritage. The widow and the stranger they slay, and the fatherless they murder, And they think the Lord does not see, the God of Jacob does not observe. Consider, you most stupid of the people; you fools, when will you understand? He who sets the ear, does he not hear? He who forms the eye, does he not see? He who punishes nations, shall he not punish you? He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the inner thoughts of men; indeed, they are futile. Happy is the man whom thou dost instruct, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy Torah, granting him relief in days of adversity, till a pit is dug for the wicked. Indeed, the Lord will not abandon his people, nor forsake his heritage. For judgment shall again conform with justice, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who rises up for me against the ungodly? Who stands up for me against the wrongdoers? If the Lord had not been my help, I would have soon dwelt in the silent grave. When I think my foot is slipping, thy goodness, O Lord, holds me up. When my cares are many within me, thy comforts cheer me. Can one in the seat of wickedness have fellowship with thee—one who frames evil by law? They band themselves against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood. But the Lord is my stronghold; my God is the rock of my safety. He will requite them for their crime, and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.

Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us acclaim our saving Stronghold. Let us approach him with thanksgiving; let us acclaim him

is repeated for emphasis. The psalmist appeals to God to punish the arrogant who contemptuously declare that God is indifferent to the sufferings of his people. He then turns to argue with those who foolishly agree with their oppressors and think that God will not defend them. He who gave others the power to hear and see can surely himself hear and see. God knows the evil thoughts of the wicked, and eventually the righteous will be vindicated when the day of retribution comes, It is unthinkable that God would abandon his people to the ravages of lawless judges and tyrannical rulers.