| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? | 1Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble? |
| 2In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. | 2The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up. |
| 3For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. | 3Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants; the one who robs others curses and rejects the LORD. |
| 4In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” | 4The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks, "God won't hold me accountable; he doesn't care." |
| 5His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. | 5He is secure at all times. He has no regard for your commands; he disdains all his enemies. |
| 6He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” | 6He says to himself, "I will never be upended, because I experience no calamity." |
| 7His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. | 7His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys. |
| 8He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; | 8He waits in ambush near the villages; in hidden places he kills the innocent. His eyes look for some unfortunate victim. |
| 9he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. | 9He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed; he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net. |
| 10The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. | 10His victims are crushed and beaten down; they are trapped in his sturdy nets. |
| 11He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” | 11He says to himself, "God overlooks it; he does not pay attention; he never notices." |
| 12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. | 12Rise up, LORD! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed! |
| 13Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? | 13Why does the wicked man reject God? He says to himself, "You will not hold me accountable." |
| 14But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. | 14You have taken notice, for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering. The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; you deliver the fatherless. |
| 15Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. | 15Break the arm of the wicked and evil man! Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds, which he thought you would not discover. |
| 16The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. | 16The LORD rules forever! The nations are driven out of his land. |
| 17O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear | 17LORD, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer. |
| 18to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. | 18You defend the fatherless and oppressed, so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them. |
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