1 W hy standest thou afar off, O Lord ? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? 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.

In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.

3 F or the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.

For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh.

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

The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for 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 are prosperous at all times. He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

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

He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”

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

His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

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 in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.

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 lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net.

10 H e croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall 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 in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”

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

Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.

13 W herefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?”

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 do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.

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 wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

16 T he Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish 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:

Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,

18 T o judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.