1. Why do You stand far off, O Lord?

1. Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?

2. In arrogance the wicked persecutes the poor;

2. let them be caught in the devices they have planned.

3. For the wicked boasts of his soul’s desire;

3. he blesses the greedy and despises the Lord.

4. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek God;

4. God is not in all his thoughts.

5. His ways are always prosperous;

5. Your judgments are high and distant from him;

5. as for all his enemies, they scoff at him.

6. He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;

6. for generations I shall not meet adversity.”

7. His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;

7. under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

8. He sits in the lurking places of the villages;

8. in the secret places he murders the innocent;

8. his eyes lurk against the unfortunate.

9. He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den;

9. he lies in wait to catch the poor;

9. he catches the poor, drawing them into his net.

10. He crouches; he lies low,

10. so that the unfortunate fall by his strength.

11. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten;

11. He hides His face; He will never see it.”

12. Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand!

12. Do not forget the humble.

13. Why do the wicked despise God?

13. He says in his heart,

13. “You will require an account.”

14. You have seen it, for You observe trouble and grief,

14. to repay it with Your hand.

14. The unfortunate one entrusts it to You;

14. You are the helper of the orphan.

15. Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man;

15. seek out his wickedness

15. until You find none.

16. The Lord is King forever and ever;

16. the nations perished from His land.

17. The desire of the humble You have heard, O Lord;

17. You make their heart attentive; You bend Your ear

18. to judge the orphan and the oppressed;

18. man on earth no longer trembles.