Psalms 94

“O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.” Naming Lift keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“LORD , how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“They break in pieces thy people, O LORD , and afflict thine heritage.” The line’s distinctive content terms include afflict, break, heritage. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fatherless, murder, slay. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.” The line’s distinctive content terms include knoweth, LORD, thoughts. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD , and teachest him out of thy law;” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.” The line’s distinctive content terms include adversity, days, digged. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.” Naming Unless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD , held me up.” The line’s distinctive content terms include foot, held, LORD. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.” The line’s distinctive content terms include comforts, delight, multitude. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blood, condemn, gather. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.