Psalm 94:3
New International Version
How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?

New Living Translation
How long, O LORD? How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat?

English Standard Version
O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?

Berean Standard Bible
How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?

King James Bible
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

New King James Version
LORD, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?

New American Standard Bible
How long, LORD, shall the wicked— How long shall the wicked triumph?

NASB 1995
How long shall the wicked, O LORD, How long shall the wicked exult?

NASB 1977
How long shall the wicked, O LORD, How long shall the wicked exult?

Legacy Standard Bible
How long shall the wicked, O Yahweh, How long shall the wicked exult?

Amplified Bible
O LORD, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked rejoice in triumph?

Christian Standard Bible
LORD, how long will the wicked — how long will the wicked celebrate?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
LORD, how long will the wicked— how long will the wicked gloat?

American Standard Version
Jehovah, how long shall the wicked, How long shall the wicked triumph?

Contemporary English Version
How long will the wicked celebrate and be glad?

English Revised Version
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How long, O LORD, will wicked people triumph? How long?

Good News Translation
How much longer will the wicked be glad? How much longer, LORD?

International Standard Version
How long will the wicked, LORD, how long will the wicked continue to triumph?

NET Bible
O LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked celebrate?

New Heart English Bible
LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph?

Webster's Bible Translation
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?

World English Bible
Yahweh, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Until when do the wicked, O YHWH—Until when do the wicked exult?

Young's Literal Translation
Till when do the wicked, O Jehovah? Till when do the wicked exult?

Smith's Literal Translation
How long shall the unjust, O Jehovah, how long shall the unjust exult?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
How long shall sinners, O Lord: how long shall sinners glory?

Catholic Public Domain Version
How long will sinners, O Lord, how long will sinners glory?

New American Bible
How long, LORD, shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked glory?

New Revised Standard Version
O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked boast?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
How long are the wicked, LORD JEHOVAH? How long are the wicked boasting?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
LORD, how long shall the wicked, How long shall the wicked exult?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
How long shall sinners, O Lord, how long shall sinners boast?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Will Not Forget His People
2Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud. 3How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult? 4They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.…

Cross References
Revelation 6:10
And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”

Habakkuk 1:2-4
How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? / Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds. / Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Malachi 3:15
So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Job 21:7-13
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? / Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes. / Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them. ...

Psalm 73:3-12
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. ...

Ecclesiastes 8:11
When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

Isaiah 10:1-3
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. / What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

Luke 18:7-8
Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them? / I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Matthew 24:12-13
Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. / But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Romans 2:4-5
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? / But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7
After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, / and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels

Psalm 37:1-2
Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. / For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Lord

Psalm 43:2
For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Psalm 73:8
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

Psalm 74:9,10
We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long…

the wicked

Esther 5:11,12
And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king…

Esther 6:6-10
So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? …

Esther 7:6,10
And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen…

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Exult Joy Jubilant Sinners Triumph Wicked
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Psalm 94
1. The prophet, calling for justice, complains of tyranny and impiety.
8. He teaches God's providence
12. He shows the blessedness of affliction
16. God is the defender of the afflicted.














How long will the wicked, O LORD
This phrase reflects a common lament found throughout the Psalms and other biblical texts, where the righteous question the apparent prosperity and success of the wicked. It echoes the cries of the prophets, such as Habakkuk, who also questioned God's timing in dealing with injustice (Habakkuk 1:2-4). The repetition of "how long" emphasizes the deep yearning for divine intervention and justice. This plea is rooted in the covenant relationship between God and His people, where God is expected to uphold justice and righteousness.

how long will the wicked exult?
The term "exult" suggests not just the success of the wicked but their arrogant celebration of it. This is a theme seen in other parts of Scripture, such as in the book of Job, where the prosperity of the wicked is a central issue (Job 21:7-15). The cultural context of the ancient Near East often saw power and wealth as signs of divine favor, making the prosperity of the wicked particularly troubling for the faithful. This phrase also points forward to the eschatological hope found in the New Testament, where ultimate justice is promised through Christ's return (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). The longing for God's righteous judgment is a type of the final judgment, where Christ will fully establish His kingdom and eradicate wickedness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Psalmist
The author of Psalm 94, traditionally attributed to David or another psalmist, who is crying out to God in distress over the apparent triumph of the wicked.

2. The Wicked
Those who act in opposition to God's will, often characterized by their arrogance and unjust actions. They are the focus of the psalmist's lament.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, invoked by the psalmist as the ultimate judge and deliverer who is expected to act against the wicked.

4. The Community of Believers
Implicitly present as the audience of the psalm, sharing in the psalmist's concern and seeking God's justice.

5. The Context of Injustice
The broader situation in which the psalmist finds himself, where injustice seems to prevail, prompting the cry for divine intervention.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Injustice
Recognize that the experience of seeing the wicked prosper is not new; it has been a concern for believers throughout history.

The Cry for Justice
Understand that it is appropriate to bring our concerns about injustice to God, trusting in His ultimate justice and timing.

God's Sovereignty and Timing
Trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that His timing is perfect, even when it seems delayed from our perspective.

The Call to Persevere
Be encouraged to persevere in faith and righteousness, even when surrounded by apparent injustice.

Hope in God's Righteous Judgment
Maintain hope in the promise of God's righteous judgment, which will ultimately prevail over wickedness.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Psalm 94:3?

2. How can we trust God's timing when "the wicked...exult" in Psalm 94:3?

3. What does Psalm 94:3 teach about God's justice amidst apparent evil triumph?

4. How does Psalm 94:3 connect with Romans 12:19 on vengeance?

5. How can believers find peace when "the wicked...exult" according to Psalm 94:3?

6. What practical steps can we take to remain faithful during times of injustice?

7. How long will the wicked triumph, as questioned in Psalm 94:3?

8. Why does God allow the wicked to prosper, according to Psalm 94:3?

9. What historical context surrounds the plea in Psalm 94:3?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 94?

11. Psalm 94:3–4 depicts the wicked flourishing and boasting; how does this align with other biblical claims that God swiftly judges evil?

12. Isaiah 10:1–4: Why would a just God allow oppressive rulers to continue writing unjust laws while still holding them accountable later?

13. Does Psalm 3:7, which portrays God striking enemies, conflict with other biblical passages emphasizing mercy or nonviolence?

14. (Psalm 14:2) How can God observe all of humanity at once, and is there any scientific basis for such omniscience?
What Does Psalm 94:3 Mean
How long will the wicked

• The psalmist voices a heartfelt lament that evil seems to thrive unchecked. Similar cries appear in Habakkuk 1:2 “How long, O LORD, must I call for help…,” and Revelation 6:10 where martyrs plead, “How long, Sovereign Lord… until You judge those who dwell on the earth?”

• This opening “How long” frames the tension between God’s righteousness and the apparent delay of His visible justice. Psalm 13:1–2 records the same angst, teaching us that expressing impatience to God is not faithlessness but honest worship.

• The question presumes certainty that judgment is coming; the issue is timing, not outcome (Psalm 37:10 “Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more”).


O LORD

• Addressing Yahweh by name keeps the lament personal and covenantal. The psalmist appeals to God’s revealed character as Judge (Genesis 18:25 “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”).

• By turning frustration into prayer, the writer models how believers should bring indignation directly to God rather than venting elsewhere (Philippians 4:6 “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”).

• The title “LORD” reminds us of His sovereign authority; no wicked act escapes His notice (Proverbs 15:3). Our sense of delay never compromises His rule.


how long will the wicked exult?

• “Exult” pictures arrogant celebration, as in Psalm 73:3 where the psalmist envied “the prosperity of the wicked.” Their gloating seems to mock God’s justice (Malachi 3:15 “Evildoers prosper, and even test God and escape”).

• The repetition of “how long” intensifies urgency, showing that persistent evil weighs heavily on the righteous soul. Romans 8:23 describes believers “groaning” while awaiting full redemption.

• Yet Scripture assures that exultation is temporary. Psalm 94 later answers its own question: verses 23–24 “He will bring back upon them their iniquity… the LORD our God will annihilate them.” Revelation 18 mirrors this reversal as Babylon’s rejoicing ends in sudden ruin.


summary

Psalm 94:3 captures the believer’s anguish when wickedness appears to triumph and God’s justice seems delayed. The cry “How long” is a faithful complaint that anchors itself in the Lord’s covenant name and character. While the wicked may exult for a season, Scripture consistently promises their celebration will cease under God’s sure judgment, encouraging us to trust His timing and remain steadfast in righteousness.

Verse 3. - Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? "How long?" is the continual cry of the psalmists to God, as it is of the souls under the altar (Revelation 6:10; comp. above, Psalm 6:3; Psalm 13:1, 2; Psalm 35:7; Psalm 74:10; Psalm 79:5; Psalm 89:46; Psalm 90:13). It is a cry of weakness and impatience, but has an element of faith in it, on which God looks with favour.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
How long
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

will the wicked,
רְשָׁעִ֥ים ׀ (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

O LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

how long
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

will the wicked
רְשָׁעִ֥ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

exult?
יַעֲלֹֽזוּ׃ (ya·‘ă·lō·zū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5937: To jump for, joy, exult


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OT Poetry: Psalm 94:3 Yahweh how long will the wicked how (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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