1 W hy do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

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

2 I n arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.

The 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 cravings. He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh.

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

4 T he wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.

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

5 H is ways are prosperous at all times. He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

His 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 says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”

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

7 H is mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

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

8 H e lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.

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 H e lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net.

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 T he helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.

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

11 H e says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”

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

12 A rise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.

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

13 W hy does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?”

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

14 B ut you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.

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 B reak the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

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

16 Y ahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.

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

17 Y ahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,

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

18 t o judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

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