1 S eñor, ¿por qué estás tan lejos? ¿Por qué te escondes en momentos de angustia?

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

2 A rrogante, el malvado persigue al pobre; ¡pero sus propias trampas lo atraparán!

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

3 E l injusto se jacta de sus malos deseos; alaba al ambicioso y desprecia al Señor.

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

4 T an soberbio es el impío que no busca a Dios, ni le da lugar en sus pensamientos.

The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

5 T odo el tiempo sus caminos son torcidos, desprecia a todos sus adversarios, y tus leyes están muy lejos de su vista.

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

6 Y se dice: «Jamás voy a tropezar. ¡Jamás me alcanzará la desgracia!»

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

7 A bundan en su boca maldiciones, engaños y mentiras. Bajo su lengua esconde ofensas y maldad.

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

8 S e acerca a las aldeas, y las acecha; tiende emboscadas para matar al inocente; pone los ojos en el desvalido.

He 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 S e agazapa, como el león en su cueva; luego se acerca para caer sobre el pobre y atraparlo en su red y arrebatarle sus bienes.

He 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 e encoge, se agazapa, y muchos desdichados caen en sus garras.

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

11 P iensa para sí que Dios se ha olvidado, que esconde la cara y nunca ve nada.

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

12 ¡ Vamos, Señor y Dios, levanta la mano! ¡No te olvides de los pobres!

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

13 ¿ Por qué tendría que menospreciarte el malvado? ¿Por qué habría de pensar que no intervendrás?

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

14 P ero tú sí ves los trabajos y la humillación, y a cada uno le das su recompensa. En ti busca amparo el desvalido; ¡eres el refugio de los huérfanos.

But 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 ¡ Rómpeles los brazos a los malvados! ¡Persigue su maldad, hasta acabar con ella!

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

16 T ú, Señor, reinas eternamente y para siempre; ¡borra de su tierra a las naciones!

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

17 T ú, Señor, escuchas las plegarias de los pobres; tú les das ánimo y les prestas atención.

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

18 T ú reivindicas al huérfano y al oprimido, para que los simples mortales no sigan violentando la tierra.

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