Psalm 94:20
New International Version
Can a corrupt throne be allied with you— a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?

New Living Translation
Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side— leaders whose decrees permit injustice?

English Standard Version
Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute?

Berean Standard Bible
Can a corrupt throne be Your ally—one devising mischief by decree?

King James Bible
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

New King James Version
Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You?

New American Standard Bible
Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree?

NASB 1995
Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree?

NASB 1977
Can a throne of destruction be allied with Thee, One which devises mischief by decree?

Legacy Standard Bible
Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which forms trouble by statute?

Amplified Bible
Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which frames and devises mischief by decree [under the sacred name of law]?

Christian Standard Bible
Can a corrupt throne be your ally, a throne that makes evil laws?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Can a corrupt throne— one that creates trouble by law— become Your ally?

American Standard Version
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by statute?

Contemporary English Version
But you are opposed to dishonest lawmakers

English Revised Version
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by statute?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things able to be your partners?

Good News Translation
You have nothing to do with corrupt judges, who make injustice legal,

International Standard Version
Will destructive national leaders, who plan wicked things through misuse of the Law, be allied with you?

Majority Standard Bible
Can a corrupt throne be Your ally?one devising mischief by decree?

NET Bible
Cruel rulers are not your allies, those who make oppressive laws.

New Heart English Bible
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute?

Webster's Bible Translation
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

World English Bible
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Is a throne of mischief joined [with] You? A framer of perverseness by statute?

Young's Literal Translation
Is a throne of mischief joined with Thee? A framer of perverseness by statute?

Smith's Literal Translation
Shall the throne of mischief be joined together with thee forming labor upon the law?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee, who framest labour in commandment?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Does the seat of iniquity adhere to you, you who contrive hardship within a commandment?

New American Bible
Can unjust judges be your allies, those who create burdens by decree,

New Revised Standard Version
Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who contrive mischief by statute?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Evil rulers shall not have fellowship with thee, for they have framed mischief against thy law.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The throne of the evil ones will not have fellowship with you, those who have formed evil against your law.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Shall the seat of wickedness have fellowship with Thee, Which frameth mischief by statute?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frames mischief by an ordinance?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Will Not Forget His People
19When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul. 20Can a corrupt throne be Your ally— one devising mischief by decree? 21They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.…

Cross References
Isaiah 10:1
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees,

Micah 2:1
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.

Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.

Isaiah 29:21
those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.

Amos 5:7
There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground.

Jeremiah 22:13
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,

Ezekiel 22:27
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

Daniel 7:25
He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

Matthew 23:28
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Romans 1:32
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 13:3-4
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. / For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-10
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. / The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.


Treasury of Scripture

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you, which frames mischief by a law?

throne

Psalm 52:1
To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

Psalm 82:1
A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

1 Samuel 22:12
And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

fellowship

2 Chronicles 6:14-16
And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: …

Isaiah 1:11-20
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats…

Jeremiah 7:4-11
Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these…

frameth

Psalm 58:2
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

1 Kings 12:32
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

Esther 3:6-12
And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai…

Jump to Previous
Allied Corrupt Decree Decrees Destruction Devises Evil Fellowship Frame Framer Frameth Iniquity Joined Law Makes Mischief Misery Part Perverseness Rulers Seat Sin Statute Throne United Wicked Wickedness
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Allied Corrupt Decree Decrees Destruction Devises Evil Fellowship Frame Framer Frameth Iniquity Joined Law Makes Mischief Misery Part Perverseness Rulers Seat Sin Statute Throne United Wicked Wickedness
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.














Can a corrupt throne
The phrase "corrupt throne" refers to a seat of power that is morally compromised or unjust. In the Hebrew text, the word for "throne" (כִּסֵּא, kisse) often symbolizes authority and governance. Historically, thrones were seen as the earthly representation of divine rule, and a "corrupt" throne implies a deviation from God's righteous standards. This phrase challenges the notion that any form of governance that is inherently unjust or wicked can align itself with God's purposes. In a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a reminder that true justice and righteousness are found in alignment with God's will, not in human institutions that have strayed from His principles.

be Your ally
The word "ally" suggests a partnership or agreement. In the context of this verse, it questions whether God can be in partnership with a throne that is corrupt. The Hebrew root for "ally" (חָבַר, chabar) means to join or unite. This rhetorical question underscores the incompatibility between God's holiness and any form of governance that perpetuates injustice. From a conservative viewpoint, this highlights the importance of aligning earthly governance with divine principles, as God cannot be in fellowship with unrighteousness.

one devising mischief
The phrase "devising mischief" refers to the intentional planning of wrongdoing or injustice. The Hebrew word for "mischief" (עָמָל, amal) can also mean trouble or toil, often associated with wickedness. This indicates a deliberate and calculated effort to enact policies or decrees that cause harm or injustice. Historically, rulers who devised such mischief were often seen as oppressors, and their actions were contrary to the justice God desires. In a conservative Christian context, this serves as a warning against leaders who use their power to harm others, emphasizing the need for leaders to seek God's wisdom and justice.

by decree
The term "decree" refers to an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority. In Hebrew, the word (חֹק, choq) often denotes a statute or ordinance. This implies that the mischief is not just random but is institutionalized through official channels. The historical context of decrees in ancient times shows that they were binding and carried significant weight, often affecting the lives of many. From a conservative Christian perspective, this highlights the responsibility of those in authority to ensure that their decrees align with God's laws and justice, as they are accountable to Him for their governance.

(20) Throne of iniquity.--This is an apt expression for an oppressive and unjust government. The word rendered "iniquity" might mean "calamity" or "destruction" (see Psalm 57:1, and comp. Psalm 91:3 : "noisome"), but in Proverbs 10:3 it seems to mean "lawless desire," which best suits this passage.

Have fellowship--i.e., be associated in the government. Could the theocracy admit to a share in it, not merely imperfect instruments of justice, but even those who perverted justice to evil ends?

Which frameth mischief by a law?--i.e., making legislation a means of wrong. Others, however, render, "against the law." But the former explanation best suits the next verse.

Verses 20-23. - The destruction of the evil doers. There can be no fellowship between light and darkness - between God and evildoers, especially those who carry out their wicked purposes under the forms of law (ver. 20), and go the length of condemning innocent blood (ver. 21). Such persons God, who defends the righteous (ver. 22), will assuredly bring to utter destruction (ver. 23). Verse 20. - Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee? The interrogative is here, as so often, an emphatic negative. By "the throne of iniquity" is meant iniquity in high places, wickedness enthroned upon the judgment seat, and thence delivering its unjust sentences. Oppressors in Israel made a large use of the machinery of the law to crush and ruin their victims (see Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 10:1, 2; Amos 5:7; Amos 6:12, etc.). Which frameth mischief by a law; i.e. which effects its mischievous purposes by means of the decrees of courts (comp. 1 Kings 21:10-13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Can a corrupt
הַוּ֑וֹת (haw·wō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1942: Desire, chasm, destruction

throne
כִּסֵּ֣א (kis·sê)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3678: Seat of honor, throne

be Your ally—
הַֽ֭יְחָבְרְךָ (hay·ḥā·ḇə·rə·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2266: To unite, be joined, to tie a magic knot or spell, to charm

one devising
יֹצֵ֖ר (yō·ṣêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

mischief
עָמָ֣ל (‘ā·māl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5999: Toil, wearing effort, worry, wheth, of body, mind

by
עֲלֵי־ (‘ă·lê-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

decree?
חֹֽק׃ (ḥōq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2706: Something prescribed or owed, a statute


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OT Poetry: Psalm 94:20 Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 94:19
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