¹Why, Yahweh, do you stand far off and hide yourself in times of distress?

²In the pride of the wicked hotly pursues the afflicted; they are caught in the schemes that they have reckoned.

³For the wicked boasts over the desire of his being, and one greedy for unjust gain blesses; he spurns Yahweh.

⁴The wicked, with his nose held high, does not seek; there is no God in all his schemes.

⁵His ways whirl at every time; your justice is on high, away from his sight; as for all those who press hard on him, he puffs at them.

⁶He says in his heart, 'I will not be shaken; through generation after generation, I who will not be in misery.'

⁷His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and wickedness.

⁸He sits in the ambush of the courtyards; in the hiding places he kills the innocent; his eyes lie hidden for the unfortunate.

⁹He lies in wait in the hiding place like a lion in its lair; he lies in wait to seize the afflicted; he seizes the afflicted by drawing him into his net.

¹⁰He crouches, he bows down, and the band of the disheartened falls among his mighty ones.

¹¹He says in his heart, 'God has forgotten; he has hidden his face; he never sees.'

¹²Rise, Yahweh; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the humble.

¹³Why has the wicked spurned God? He has said in his heart, 'You will not seek.'

¹⁴You have seen, for you yourself look on trouble and vexation, to put it in your hand; the unfortunate leaves it to you; you have been the helper of the fatherless.

¹⁵Break the arm of the wicked and of the evil one; you will seek out his wickedness and will not find it.

¹⁶Yahweh is king forever and ever; the nations have perished from his land.

¹⁷You have heard the desire of the humble, Yahweh; you establish their heart; you make your ear pay attention.

¹⁸To give judgment for the fatherless and the oppressed, so that humankind from the land will not again go on to terrify.