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

Señor, ¿por qué estás tan lejos? ¿Por qué te escondes en momentos de angustia?

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.

Arrogante, el malvado persigue al pobre; ¡pero sus propias trampas lo atraparán!

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.

El injusto se jacta de sus malos deseos; alaba al ambicioso y desprecia al Señor.

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.

Tan soberbio es el impío que no busca a Dios, ni le da lugar en sus pensamientos.

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.

Todo el tiempo sus caminos son torcidos, desprecia a todos sus adversarios, y tus leyes están muy lejos de su vista.

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.

Y se dice: «Jamás voy a tropezar. ¡Jamás me alcanzará la desgracia!»

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

Abundan en su boca maldiciones, engaños y mentiras. Bajo su lengua esconde ofensas y maldad.

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).

Se acerca a las aldeas, y las acecha; tiende emboscadas para matar al inocente; pone los ojos en el desvalido.

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.

Se agazapa, como el león en su cueva; luego se acerca para caer sobre el pobre y atraparlo en su red y arrebatarle sus bienes.

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

Se encoge, se agazapa, y muchos desdichados caen en sus garras.

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

Piensa para sí que Dios se ha olvidado, que esconde la cara y nunca ve nada.

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

¡Vamos, Señor y Dios, levanta la mano! ¡No te olvides de los pobres!

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

¿Por qué tendría que menospreciarte el malvado? ¿Por qué habría de pensar que no intervendrás?

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.

Pero tú sí ves los trabajos y la humillación, y a cada uno le das su recompensa. En ti busca amparo el desvalido; ¡eres el refugio de los huérfanos.

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

¡Rómpeles los brazos a los malvados! ¡Persigue su maldad, hasta acabar con ella!

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

Tú, Señor, reinas eternamente y para siempre; ¡borra de su tierra a las naciones!

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,

Tú, Señor, escuchas las plegarias de los pobres; tú les das ánimo y les prestas atención.

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.

Tú reivindicas al huérfano y al oprimido, para que los simples mortales no sigan violentando la tierra.