^1. WHY do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide [1] Yourself in times of trouble?

^2. In pride the wicked [3] hotly pursue the afflicted; [2] Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

^3. For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, And [4] the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.

^4. The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his [5] thoughts are, « There is no God.»

^5. His ways [6] prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.

^6. He says to himself, « I will not be moved; [7] Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity.»

^7. His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.

^8. He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes [9] stealthily watch for the [8] unfortunate.

^9. He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his [10] lair; He lurks to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.

^10. He [14] crouches, he [13] bows down, And the [12] unfortunate fall [11] by his mighty ones.

^11. He says to himself, «God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.»

^12. Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.

^13. Why has the wicked spurned God? He has said to himself, «You will not require it.»

^14. You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to [16] take it into Your hand. The [15] unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan.

^15. Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, [17] Seek out his wickedness until You find none.

^16. The LORD is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land.

^17. O LORD, You have heard the desire of the [18] humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear

^18. To [19] vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.