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