The Psalter ‎#18

18. Complaint Against the Wicked

1 Why standest Thou afar, O Lord,
Why art Thou hid in trouble's hour?
The wicked persecute the poor
In haughty pride and reckless pow'r.

2 Let their devices work their fall,
For in their shame is all their pride;
And while they seek unrighteous gain
The Lord of justice is defied.

3 The wicked thinks, in foolish pride,
There is no God Who will repay;
He has no fear of God or man
Because God's judgments long delay.

4 Unmoved by fear of coming doom,
On fraud and wickedness intent,
With craft he lurks and waits to catch
The helpless and the innocent.

5 A lion crouching for his prey,
He waits the poor to overthrow;
He thinks that God remembers not,
Or hides His face and will not know.

6 Arise, O Lord, lift up Thy hand,
O God, protect the poor and meek;
Why should the proud Thy justice doubt,
And words of bold defiance speak?

7 O Lord, Thou wilt indeed requite,
The sin and sorrow Thou dost see;
The helpless and the fatherless
Commit themselves, O Lord, to Thee.

8 Break Thou the pow'r of wicked men
And let their works no longer stand;
The Lord is King for evermore,
Who drove the nations from His land.

9 Lord, Thou hast heard the lowly prayer,
The fainting heart Thou wilt restore,
The helpless cause Thou wilt maintain,
That mortal man may boast no more.

Text Information

• First Line: Why standest Thou afar, O Lord
• Title: Complaint Against the Wicked
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1912
• Scripture:
  Psalm 10
• Topic: Afflictions: Deliverance from; Afflictions: From the Wicked; Character: Vicious; Christians: Persecuted and Sorrowing; Covetousness; God: Denial of; God: Fatherhood of; God: Our Guardian; God: Hearer of Prayer; God: Kingly Character of; God: Our Refuge; Heart: God the Strength of; Judgments: On the Wicked; Missions: Encouragements of; Nations: Dependence on God; Nations: Ultimate Subjection of; Orphans; The Poor: Remembered by God; Prayer: Imprecations in; Pride; Retribution: Belongs to God; Retribution: Threatened; The Righteous: Forsaken by God; Royalty of Christ: Guarantee of Salvation; Temperance Songs; Temptation; Vanity: Of Sinners; The Wicked: Condemnation of; The Wicked: Persecuting Spirit of; The Wicked: Prayers for Punishment of; The Wicked: Warned

Tune Information

• Name: BRIGGS
• Composer: William A. Tarbutton
• Meter: L. M.
• Key: B♭ Major