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

Why do You stand far away, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself 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.

The sinful, in their pride, try to catch the weak. Let them be caught in the plans they have made.

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

The sinful man is proud of the desires of his heart. He praises those who want everything but he speaks against the Lord.

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

The sinful man in his pride does not look for God. All his thoughts are that 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 puffs at them.

His ways always go well for him. Your laws are too high for him to see. He laughs at those who hate him.

6 H e has 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. For all time, I will never have trouble.”

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

With his mouth he swears and lies. He makes it hard for other people. Trouble and sin are under his tongue.

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.

He lies hidden in the towns, waiting to kill those who are not guilty. His eyes are always watching for the weak.

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.

He lies in wait like a hidden lion. He lies in wait to catch the weak, and they become caught in his net.

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

The weak are hurt and they fall. They cannot stand under his strength.

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

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

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

Rise up, O Lord! Lift up Your hand, O God. Do not forget the weak.

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

Why does the sinful man turn away from God? He has said to himself, “You will not ask it of me.”

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.

But You have seen it. You look upon trouble and suffering, to take it into Your hands. The suffering man gives himself to You. You are the Helper of the one who has no father.

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

Break the arm of the bad and sinful man. Find out all his sins until You find no more.

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

The Lord is King forever and ever. Those who worship false gods will be taken from the 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 prayers of those who have no pride. You will give strength to their heart, and You will listen to them.

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

In this way, You will do the right thing for those without a father and those who suffer, so that man who is of the earth will no longer make them afraid.