1 W hy standest thou afar off, O Lord ? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

Why do You stand afar off, O Lord ? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?

2 T he wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

3 F or the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.

For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.

4 T he wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, “ There is no God.”

5 H is ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.

6 H e hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

He says to himself, “ I will not be moved; Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity.”

7 H is mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.

8 H e sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.

9 H e lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair; He lurks to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.

10 H e croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

He crouches, he bows down, And the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.

11 H e hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.”

12 A rise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.

13 W herefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

Why has the wicked spurned God? He has said to himself, “You will not require it.”

14 T hou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan.

15 B reak thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, Seek out his wickedness until You find none.

16 T he Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

The Lord is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land.

17 L ord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear

18 t o judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.