| 1 | Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? | |
| 2 | In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. | |
| 3 | He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. | |
| 4 | In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. | |
| 5 | His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. | |
| 6 | He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble." | |
| 7 | His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. | |
| 8 | He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. | |
| 9 | He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. | |
| 10 | His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. | |
| 11 | He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees." | |
| 12 | Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. | |
| 13 | Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"? | |
| 14 | But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. | |
| 15 | Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. | |
| 16 | The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. | |
| 17 | You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, | |
| 18 | defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. | |