1 Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

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.

2 ¶ In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued;
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.

3 ¶ For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire,
And the covetous renounceth, yea, contemneth the Lord.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

4 ¶ The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, saith, He will not require it.
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.

5 ¶ His ways are firm at all times;
Thy judgements are far above out of his sight:
As for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

6 ¶ He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved:
To all generations I shall not be in adversity.

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

7 ¶ His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression:
Under his tongue is mischief and 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.

8 ¶ He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages:
In the covert places doth he murder the innocent:
His eyes are privily set against the helpless.

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.

9 ¶ He lurketh in the covert as a lion in his den:
He lieth in wait to catch the poor:
He doth catch the poor, when he draweth him in his net.

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

10 ¶ He croucheth, he boweth down,
And the helpless fall by his strong ones.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

11 ¶ He saith 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.

12 ¶ Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand:
Forget not the poor.

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

13 ¶ Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God,
And say 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.

14 ¶ Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to take it into thy hand:
The helpless committeth himself unto thee;
Thou hast been 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.

15 ¶ Break thou the arm of the wicked;
And as for 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.

16 ¶ The Lord is King for ever and ever:
The nations 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:

17 ¶ Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the meek:
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.

18 ¶ To judge the fatherless and the oppressed,
That man which is of the earth may be terrible no more.