1 W hy do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself, in times of trouble (distress and desperation)?

Why, Jehovah, standest thou afar off? hidest thou thyself in times of distress?

2 T he wicked in pride and arrogance hotly pursue and persecute the poor; let them be taken in the schemes which they have devised.

The wicked, in his pride, doth hotly pursue the afflicted. They shall be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 F or the wicked man boasts (sings the praises) of his own heart’s desire, and the one greedy for gain curses and spurns, yes, renounces and despises the Lord.

For the wicked boasteth of his soul's desire, and he blesseth the covetous; he contemneth Jehovah.

4 T he wicked one in the pride of his countenance will not seek, inquire for, and yearn for God; all his thoughts are that there is no God.

The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, He doth not search out: all his thoughts are, There is no God!

5 H is ways are grievous at all times; Your judgments are far above and on high out of his sight; as for all his foes, he sniffs and sneers at them.

His ways always succeed; thy judgments are far above out of his sight; all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

6 H e thinks in his heart, I shall not be moved; for throughout all generations I shall not come to want or be in adversity.

He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; from generation to generation I shall be in no adversity.

7 H is mouth is full of cursing, deceit, oppression (fraud); under his tongue are trouble and sin (mischief and iniquity).

His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

8 H e sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he slays the innocent; he watches stealthily for the poor (the helpless and unfortunate).

He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in the secret places doth he slay the innocent: his eyes watch for the wretched.

9 H e lurks in secret places like a lion in his thicket; he lies in wait that he may seize the poor (the helpless and the unfortunate); he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.

He lieth in wait secretly, like a lion in his thicket; he lieth in wait to catch the afflicted: he doth catch the afflicted, drawing him into his net.

10 i s crushed, sinks down; and the helpless falls by his mighty.

He croucheth, he boweth down, that the wretched may fall by his strong ones.

11 t hinks in his heart, God has quite forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see.

He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten, he hideth his face, he will never see.

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

Arise, Jehovah; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the afflicted.

13 W hy does the wicked condemn (spurn and renounce) God? Why has he thought in his heart, You will not call to account?

Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require.

14 Y ou have seen it; yes, You note trouble and grief (vexation) to requite it with Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.

Thou hast seen, for thou thyself beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite by thy hand. The wretched committeth himself unto thee; thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.

15 B reak the arm of the wicked man; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness until You find no more.

Break thou the arm of the wicked, and as for the evil man, seek out his wickedness thou find none.

16 T he Lord is King forever and ever; the nations will perish out of His land.

Jehovah is King for ever and ever: the nations have perished out of his land.

17 O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts, You will cause Your ear to hear,

Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek, thou hast established their heart: thou causest thine ear to hear,

18 T o do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may not terrify them any more.

To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed one, that the man of the earth may terrify no more.