1 W hy do You stand afar off, O Lord ? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

2 T he wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

3 F or the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord.

4 T he wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

5 H is ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

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

7 H is mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.

8 H e sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.

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 S o he crouches, he lies low, That the helpless may fall by his strength.

11 H e has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”

12 A rise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.

13 W hy do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account. ”

14 B ut You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.

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

16 T he Lord is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land.

17 L ord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,

18 T o do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.