1Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD?

Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?

2Through the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued,

They are taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire,

And the covetous vaunteth himself, though he contemn the LORD.

4The wicked, in the pride of his countenance [, saith]: ‘He will not require’;

All his thoughts are: ‘There is no God.’

5His ways prosper at all times;

Thy judgments are far above out of his sight;

As for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

6He saith in his heart: ‘I shall not be moved,

I who to all generations shall not be in adversity.’

7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression;

Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

8He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages;

In secret places doth he slay the innocent;

His eyes are on the watch for the helpless.

9He lieth in wait in a secret place as a lion in his lair,

He lieth in wait to catch the poor;

He doth catch the poor, when he draweth him up in his net.

10He croucheth, he boweth down,

And the helpless fall into his mighty claws.

11He hath said in his heart: ‘God hath forgotten;

He hideth His face; He will never see.’

12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Thy hand;

Forget not the humble.

13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God,

And say in his heart: ‘Thou wilt not require’?

14Thou hast seen; for Thou beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite them with Thy hand;

Unto Thee the helpless committeth himself;

Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.

15Break Thou the arm of the wicked; And as for the evil man, search out his wickedness, till none be found.

16The LORD is King for ever and ever;

The nations are perished out of His land.

17LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble:

Thou wilt direct their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to attend;

18To right the fatherless and the oppressed,

That man who is of the earth may be terrible no more.