1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. The wicked…: Heb. In the pride of the wicked he doth persecute 3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. heart’s: Heb. soul’s blesseth…: or, the covetous blesseth himself, he abhorreth the LORD 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. God is…: or, all his thoughts are, There is no God 5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. never: Heb. unto generation and generation 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. deceit: Heb. deceits vanity: or, iniquity 8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. are…: Heb. hide themselves 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. secretly: Heb. in the secret places 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. He…: Heb. He breaketh himself by…: or, into his strong parts 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. humble: or, afflicted 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. committeth: Heb. leaveth 15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. 16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. 17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: prepare: or, establish 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. oppress: or, terrify