1 ¿ Por qué estás lejos, oh Jehová, Y te escondes en el tiempo de la 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 malo persigue al pobre; Será atrapado en los artificios que ha ideado.

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 el malo se jacta del deseo de su alma, Bendice al codicioso, y desprecia a Jehová.

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 malo, por la altivez de su rostro, no busca a Dios; No hay Dios en ninguno de sus pensamientos.

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 son torcidos en todo tiempo; Tus juicios los tiene muy lejos de su vista; A todos sus adversarios 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 seré movido jamás; Nunca me alcanzará el infortunio.

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 maldición, y de engaños y fraude; Debajo de su lengua hay vejación y maldad.

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

8 S e sienta en acecho cerca de las aldeas; En escondrijos mata al inocente. Sus ojos están acechando 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 oculto, como el león desde su cueva; Acecha para arrebatar al pobre; Arrebata al pobre trayéndolo 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 encoge, se agacha, Y caen en sus fuertes garras muchos desdichados.

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

11 D ice en su corazón: Dios ha olvidado; Ha encubierto su rostro; nunca lo verá.

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

12 L evántate, oh Jehová Dios, alza tu mano; No te olvides de los pobres.

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

13 ¿ Por qué desprecia el malo a Dios? En su corazón ha dicho: Tú no lo inquirirás.

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 miras el trabajo y la vejación, para dar la recompensa con tu mano; A ti se acoge el desvalido; Tú eres el 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 uebranta tú el brazo del inicuo, Y persigue la maldad del malo hasta que no halles ninguna.

Break the arm of the wicked man; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness until You find no more.

16 J ehová es Rey eternamente y para siempre; De su tierra han perecido las naciones.

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

17 E l deseo de los humildes oíste, oh Jehová; Tú dispones su corazón, y haces atento 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 juzgar al huérfano y al oprimido, A fin de que no vuelva más a hacer violencia el hombre 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.