1O LORD, why do you stand so far away?Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
2The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
3For they brag about their evil desires;they praise the greedy and curse the LORD.
4The wicked are too proud to seek God.They seem to think that God is dead.
5Yet they succeed in everything they do.They do not see your punishment awaiting them.They sneer at all their enemies.
6They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!We will be free of trouble forever!”
7Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
8They lurk in ambush in the villages,waiting to murder innocent people.They are always searching for helpless victims.
9Like lions crouched in hiding,they wait to pounce on the helpless.Like hunters they capture the helplessand drag them away in nets.
10Their helpless victims are crushed;they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.
11The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us!He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!”
12Arise, O LORD!Punish the wicked, O God!Do not ignore the helpless!
13Why do the wicked get away with despising God?They think, “God will never call us to account.”
14But you see the trouble and grief they cause.You take note of it and punish them.The helpless put their trust in you.You defend the orphans.
15Break the arms of these wicked, evil people!Go after them until the last one is destroyed.
16The LORD is king forever and ever!The godless nations will vanish from the land.
17LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless.Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
18You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,so mere people can no longer terrify them.