| 1 | Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? |
| 2 | In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor — let them be caught in the schemes they have devised. |
| 3 | For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart, those greedy for gain curse and renounce the LORD. |
| 4 | In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, “God will not seek it out”; all their thoughts are, “There is no God.” |
| 5 | Their ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of their sight; as for their foes, they scoff at them. |
| 6 | They think in their heart, “We shall not be moved; throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.” |
| 7 | Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under their tongues are mischief and iniquity. |
| 8 | They sit in ambush in the villages; in hiding places they murder the innocent. Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; |
| 9 | they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert; they lurk that they may seize the poor; they seize the poor and drag them off in their net. |
| 10 | They stoop, they crouch, and the helpless fall by their might. |
| 11 | They think in their heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” |
| 12 | Rise up, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed. |
| 13 | Why do the wicked renounce God, and say in their hearts, “You will not call us to account”? |
| 14 | But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan. |
| 15 | Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers; seek out their wickedness until you find none. |
| 16 | The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land. |
| 17 | O LORD, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear |
| 18 | to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more. |