1 ¿ Por qué estás lejos, oh SEÑOR, y te escondes en los tiempos de la angustia?

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

2 C on arrogancia el malo persigue al pobre; sean tomados en los pensamientos que pensaron.

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

3 P or cuanto se alabó el malo del deseo de su alma, y diciendo bien al robador, blasfema del SEÑOR.

For 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.

4 E l malo, por la altivez de su rostro, no busca a Dios. No está Dios en todos sus pensamientos.

The 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.

5 S us caminos atormentan en todo tiempo; tus juicios son altura delante de él; echa bocanadas en orden a todos sus enemigos.

His 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.

6 D ice en su corazón: No seré movido en ningún tiempo, porque no me alcanzará el mal.

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

7 L lena está su boca de maldición, y de engaños y fraude; debajo de su lengua, molestia y maldad.

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

8 E stá en las guaridas de las aldeas; en los escondrijos mata al inocente; sus ojos están acechando al pobre.

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

9 A cecha de encubierto, como el león desde su cama; acecha para arrebatar al pobre; arrebata al pobre trayéndolo en su red.

He 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.

10 S e encoge, se agacha, y caen en sus fuerzas muchos desdichados.

is crushed, sinks down; and the helpless falls by his mighty.

11 D ice en su corazón: Dios está olvidado, ha encubierto su rostro; nunca lo vio.

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

12 ¶ Levántate, oh SEÑOR Dios, alza tu mano, no te olvides de los humildes.

Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the humble.

13 ¿ Por qué irrita el malo a Dios? En su corazón ha dicho que no lo inquirirás.

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

14 T ú has visto; porque tú miras el trabajo, y el enojo, para dar justicia en tus manos; a ti se acoge el pobre, tú eres el amparo del huérfano.

You 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.

15 Q uebranta el brazo del inicuo; del malo buscarás su maldad, y no la hallarás.

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

16 E l SEÑOR, Rey eterno y perpetuo; de su tierra fueron destruidos los gentiles.

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

17 E l deseo de los humildes oíste, oh SEÑOR; tú dispones su corazón, y haces atento tu oído;

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,

18 p ara juzgar al huérfano y al pobre; no volverá más a hacer violencia el hombre de la tierra.

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