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. ^▼

3  For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. ^{▼ ▼}

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; 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. ^▼

7  His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. ^{▼ ▼}

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. ^▼

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. ^▼

10  He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. ^{▼ ▼}

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. ^▼

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. ^▼

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: ^▼

18  To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. ^▼