[1] Why stand you afar off, O LORD? why hide you yourself in times of trouble?
[2] The wicked in his pride does persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
[3] For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors.
[4] The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
[5] His ways are always grievous; your judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffs at them.
[6] He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
[7] His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
[8] He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places does he murder the innocent: his eyes are privately set against the poor.
[9] He 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.
[10] He crouches, and humbles himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
[11] He has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he hides his face; he will never see it.
[12] Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand: forget not the humble.
[13] Why does the wicked scorn God? he has said in his heart, You will not require it.
[14] You have seen it; for you behold mischief and spite, to requite it with your hand: the poor commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
[15] Break you the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till you find none.
[16] The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
[17] LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble: you will prepare their heart, you will cause your ear to hear:
[18] To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
