1 ¿ Por qué, oh Señor, Te mantienes alejado, Y Te escondes en tiempos de tribulación?

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 impío acosa al afligido; ¡Que sea atrapado en las trampas que ha preparado!

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 orque del deseo de su corazón se gloría el impío, Y el codicioso maldice y desprecia al 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 impío, en la arrogancia de su rostro, no busca a Dios. Todo su pensamiento es: “No hay Dios.”

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 prosperan en todo tiempo; Tus juicios, oh Dios, están en lo alto, lejos de su vista; A todos sus adversarios los desprecia.

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 hay quien me mueva; Por todas las generaciones no sufriré adversidad.”

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 blasfemia, engaño y opresión; Bajo su lengua hay malicia e iniquidad.

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

8 S e sienta al acecho en las aldeas, En los escondrijos mata al inocente; Sus ojos espían al desvalido.

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 en el escondrijo como león en su guarida; Acecha para atrapar al afligido, Y atrapa al afligido arrastrándolo a 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 agazapa, se encoge, Y los desdichados caen en sus garras.

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

11 E l impío dice en su corazón: “Dios se ha olvidado; Ha escondido Su rostro; nunca verá nada.”

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

12 L evántate, oh Señor; alza, oh Dios, Tu mano. No Te olvides de los pobres.

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

13 ¿ Por qué ha despreciado el impío a Dios ? Ha dicho en su corazón: “Tú no le pedirás cuentas.”

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 lo has visto, porque has contemplado la malicia y el maltrato, para hacer justicia con Tu mano. A Ti se acoge el desvalido; Tú has sido 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 uiébrale el brazo al impío y al malvado; Persigue su maldad hasta que desaparezca.

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 es Rey eternamente y para siempre; Las naciones han perecido de Su tierra.

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

17 O h Señor, Tú has oído el deseo de los humildes; Tú fortalecerás su corazón e inclinarás 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 hacer justicia al huérfano y al afligido; Para que no vuelva a causar terror el hombre que es 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.