1 W hy standest thou afar off, O Lord ? why hidest thou 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 doth persecute 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 boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.

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, will 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 puffeth 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 hath 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 sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily 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 lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth 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 croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

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

11 H e hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth 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 A rise, 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 W herefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

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 beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth 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 till 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 heathen 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 more 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.