¹Why, O Yahweh, do you stand far off? Why do you hide during times of distress? ²In arrogance the wicked persecutes the poor. Let them be caught in the schemes that they devised, ³for the wicked boasts about the desire of his ⌞heart⌟, and the one greedy for gain curses and treats Yahweh with contempt. ⁴⌞With bald-faced pride⌟ the wicked will not seek God. There is no God in any of his thoughts. ⁵His ways endure at all times. Your judgments are aloof from him. As for all his enemies, he scoffs at them. ⁶He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved ⌞throughout all generations⌟, during which I will have no trouble.” ⁷His mouth is filled with cursing, with deceits and oppression; under his tongue are trouble and evil. ⁸He sits in ambush in villages; in the hiding places he kills the innocent. His eyes ⌞lurk⌟ for the helpless. ⁹He lies in ambush ⌞secretly,⌟ like a lion in a thicket. He lies in ambush to seize the poor; he seizes the poor by catching him in his net. ¹⁰He is crushed; he is bowed down; so the helpless host falls by his ⌞might⌟. ¹¹He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He never sees.” ¹²Rise up, O Yahweh; O God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the afflicted. ¹³Why does the wicked treat God with contempt? He says in his heart, “You will not call me to account.” ¹⁴But you have seen; indeed you have noted trouble and grief to take it into your hand. The helpless abandons himself upon you; you have been the helper for the orphan. ¹⁵Break the arm of the wicked, and as for the evil man— seek out his wickedness until you find none. ¹⁶Yahweh is king forever and ever; the nations have perished from his land. ¹⁷The longing of the afflicted you have heard, O Yahweh. You will make their heart secure. You will ⌞listen attentively⌟ ¹⁸to render judgment for the fatherless and the oppressed so that a mere mortal from the earth will no longer cause terror.