1 ¶ Why dost thou stand afar off, O LORD? Why dost thou hide thyself in times of trouble?

2 T he wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 F or the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors.

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

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

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

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

8 H e sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places he murders the innocent: his eyes are secretly set against the poor.

9 H e lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to catch the poor: he catches the poor when he draws him into his net.

10 H e crouches and hides himself, and many are those who fall under his power.

11 H e has said in his heart, God has forgotten; he hides his face; he will never see it.

12 ¶ Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand; forget not the humble.

13 I n what does the wicked irritate God? He has said in his heart, Thou wilt not require accountability.

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

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

16 T he LORD is King for ever and ever; the Gentiles are perished out of 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:

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