- 1Why do you stand far off, the Lord? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
- 2In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
- 3For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy, and condemns the Lord.
- 4The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
- 5His 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.
- 6He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”
- 7His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
- 8He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
- 9He 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.
- 10The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
- 11He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
- 12Arise, the Lord! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.
- 13Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?”
- 14But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
- 15Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
- 16The Lord is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
- 17The Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
- 18to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.