¹ Why do thou stand afar off, O Jehovah? Why do thou hide thyself in times of trouble?

² In the pride of the wicked man the poor man is hotly pursued. Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.

³ For the wicked man boasts of his heart's desire. And the greedy man renounces, yea, despises Jehovah.

⁴ The wicked man, in the pride of his countenance, says, He will not require it. All his thoughts are, There is no God.

⁵ His ways are profane at all times. Thy judgments are far above out of his sight. As for all his adversaries, he puffs at them.

⁶ He says in his heart, I shall not be moved. To all generations I shall not be in adversity.

⁷ His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

⁸ He sits in the lurking-places of the villages. In the covert places he murders the innocent man. His eyes are secretly set against the poor man.

⁹ He lurks in secret as a lion in his covert. He lies in wait to catch the poor man. He catches the poor man when he draws him in his net.

¹⁰ He crouches, he bows down, and helpless men fall by his strong men.

¹¹ He says in his heart, God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.

¹² Arise, O Jehovah, O God, lift up thy hand. Do not forget the poor.

¹³ Why does the wicked man despise God, and say in his heart, Thou will not require it?

¹⁴ Thou have seen. For thou behold mischief and spite, to repay with thy hand. The poor man commits himself to thee. Thou have been the helper of the fatherless.

¹⁵ Break thou the arm of the sinner and the evil man. His wickedness shall be sought, and shall not be found.

¹⁶ Jehovah is King forever and ever. The nations have perished out of his land.

¹⁷ Jehovah, thou have heard the desire of the humble. Thou will prepare their heart, thou will cause thine ear to hear,

¹⁸ to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may no more be terrible.