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.[a]

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.[b][c]

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

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.[e]

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

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.[h]

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.[i]

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

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.[l]

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.[m]

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:[n]

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.[o]

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