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

Why do You stand afar off, O Lord ? Why do You hide Yourself 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.

In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; 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.

For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.

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

The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, “ There is no God.”

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.

His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.

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

He says to himself, “ I will not be moved; Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity.”

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

His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.

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.

He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.

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 lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair; He lurks to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.

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

He crouches, he bows down, And the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.

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

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

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

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.

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

Why has the wicked spurned God? He has said to himself, “You will not require it.”

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.

You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan.

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

Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, 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.

The Lord is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from 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,

O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear

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

To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.