1 W hy do You stand far away, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?

Why, Jehovah, standest thou afar off? hidest thou thyself in times of distress?

2 T he sinful, in their pride, try to catch the weak. Let them be caught in the plans they have made.

The wicked, in his pride, doth hotly pursue the afflicted. They shall be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 T he sinful man is proud of the desires of his heart. He praises those who want everything but he speaks against the Lord.

For the wicked boasteth of his soul's desire, and he blesseth the covetous; he contemneth Jehovah.

4 T he sinful man in his pride does not look for God. All his thoughts are that there is no God.

The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, He doth not search out: all his thoughts are, There is no God!

5 H is ways always go well for him. Your laws are too high for him to see. He laughs at those who hate him.

His ways always succeed; thy judgments are far above out of his sight; all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

6 H e says to himself, “I will not be moved. For all time, I will never have trouble.”

He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; from generation to generation I shall be in no adversity.

7 W ith his mouth he swears and lies. He makes it hard for other people. Trouble and sin are under his tongue.

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

8 H e lies hidden in the towns, waiting to kill those who are not guilty. His eyes are always watching for the weak.

He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in the secret places doth he slay the innocent: his eyes watch for the wretched.

9 H e lies in wait like a hidden lion. He lies in wait to catch the weak, and they become caught in his net.

He lieth in wait secretly, like a lion in his thicket; he lieth in wait to catch the afflicted: he doth catch the afflicted, drawing him into his net.

10 T he weak are hurt and they fall. They cannot stand under his strength.

He croucheth, he boweth down, that the wretched may fall by his strong ones.

11 H e says to himself, “God has forgotten. He has hidden His face and will never see it.”

He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten, he hideth his face, he will never see.

12 R ise up, O Lord! Lift up Your hand, O God. Do not forget the weak.

Arise, Jehovah; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the afflicted.

13 W hy does the sinful man turn away from God? He has said to himself, “You will not ask it of me.”

Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require.

14 B ut 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.

Thou hast seen, for thou thyself beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite by thy hand. The wretched committeth himself unto thee; thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.

15 B reak the arm of the bad and sinful man. Find out all his sins until You find no more.

Break thou the arm of the wicked, and as for the evil man, seek out his wickedness thou find none.

16 T he Lord is King forever and ever. Those who worship false gods will be taken from the land.

Jehovah is King for ever and ever: the nations have perished out of his land.

17 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.

Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek, thou hast established their heart: thou causest thine ear to hear,

18 I n 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.

To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed one, that the man of the earth may terrify no more.