1 Wherefore is it that thou, O Lord,
dost stand from us afar?
and wherefore hidest thou thyself
when times so troublous are?
2 The wicked in his loftiness
doth persecute the poor:
in the devices they have framed
let them be taken sure.
3 The wicked of his heart’s desire
doth talk with boastful word;
the covetous renounceth, yea,
he doth despise the Lord.
4 The wicked in his haughtiness
upon God doth not call;
and in the counsels of his heart
there is no God at all.
5 His ways at all time grievous are;
thy judgments from his sight
removed are: at all his foes
he puffeth with despite.
6 Within his heart he thus hath said,
I shall not moved be;
and no adversity at all
shall ever come to me.
7 His mouth with cursing, fraud, and wrong,
is filled abundantly;
and underneath his tongue there is
mischief and vanity.
8 He closely sits in villages;
he slays the innocent:
against the poor that pass him by
his cruel eyes are bent.
9 He lion-like lurks in his den;
he waits the poor to take,
and when he draws him in his net,
his prey he doth him make.
10 Himself he humbleth very low,
he croucheth down withal,
that so a multitude of poor
may by his strong ones fall.
11 He thus hath said within his heart,
God hath it quite forgot;
he hides his countenance, and he
for ever sees it not.
12 O Lord, do thou arise; O God,
lift up thine hand on high:
put not the meek afflicted ones
out of thy memory.
13 Why is it that the wicked man
doth God thus still despise?
Because that God will it require
he in his heart denies.
14 Thou hast it seen; for wrong and wrath
thou seest to repay:
the poor commits himself to thee;
thou art the orphan’s stay.
15 The arm break of the wicked man,
and of the evil one;
do thou seek out his wickedness,
until thou findest none.
16 The Lord is king through ages all,
even to eternity;
the heathen people from his land
are perished utterly.
17 O Lord, of those that humble are
thou the desire didst hear;
thou wilt prepare their heart, and thou
to hear wilt bend thine ear;
18 to judge the fatherless and those
that are oppressed sore;
that man, who is but of the earth,
may them oppress no more.
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