A Song of Confidence in God’s Triumph over Evil
1 Why do You stand afar off, OLord?
Whydo You hide in times of trouble?
2 The wicked inhispride persecutes the poor;
# Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
3 For the wickedboasts of his heart’s desire;
# Heblesses the greedyandrenounces theLord.
4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seekGod;
# Godisin none of histhoughts.
5 His ways are always prospering;
Your judgmentsarefar above, out of his sight;
Asforall his enemies, he sneers at them.
6 He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
# I shall never be in adversity.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing anddeceit and oppression;
Under his tongueistrouble and iniquity.
8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
In the secret places he murders the innocent;
His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.
9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den;
He lies in wait to catch the poor;
He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.
10 So he crouches, he lies low,
That the helpless may fall by his strength.
11 He has said in his heart,
“God has forgotten;
He hides His face;
He will never see.”
12 Arise, OLord!
# O God,lift up Your hand!
# Do not forget thehumble.
13 Why do the wicked renounce God?
He has said in his heart,
“You will not requireanaccount.”
14 But You haveseen, for You observe trouble and grief,
To repayitby Your hand.
# The helplesscommits himself to You;
# You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evilman;
Seek out his wickednessuntilYou find none.
16 TheLordisKing forever and ever;
The nations have 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 do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
That the man of the earth may oppress no more.