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.
3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth
the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not
seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
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.
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his
tongue is mischief and vanity.
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.
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.
10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall
by his strong ones.
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.
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.
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:
18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of
the earth may no more oppress. |