A Prayer to Judge the Wicked

1Why stand you afar off, O LORD? why hide you yourself in times of trouble?

2The wicked in his pride does persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors.

4The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in any of his thoughts.

5His ways are always prosperous; your judgments are far above, out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

6He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places does he murder the innocent: his eyes are secretly set against the poor.

9He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to catch the poor: he does catch the poor, when he draws him into his net.

10He crouches, and lies low, that the poor may fall by his strength.

11He has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he hides his face; he will never see it.

12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand: forget not the humble.

13Why does the wicked renounce God? he has said in his heart, You will not require it.

14You have seen it: for you behold mischief and spite, to repay it with your hand: the poor commits himself unto you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

15Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till you find none.

16The LORD is King forever and ever: the nations are perished out of his land.

17LORD, 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 the man of the earth may no more oppress.