[1] Why are you so far away, O LORD? Why do you hide yourself when we are in trouble? [2] The wicked are proud and persecute the poor; catch them in the traps they have made. [3] The wicked are proud of their evil desires; the greedy curse and reject the LORD. [4] The wicked do not care about the LORD; in their pride they think that God doesn't matter. [5] The wicked succeed in everything. They cannot understand God's judgments; they sneer at their enemies. [6] They say to themselves, "We will never fail; we will never be in trouble." [7] Their speech is filled with curses, lies, and threats; they are quick to speak hateful, evil words. [8] They hide themselves in the villages, waiting to murder innocent people. They spy on their helpless victims; [9] they wait in their hiding place like lions. They lie in wait for the poor; they catch them in their traps and drag them away. [10] The helpless victims lie crushed; brute strength has defeated them. [11] The wicked say to themselves, "God doesn't care! He has closed his eyes and will never see me!" [12] O LORD, punish those wicked people! Remember those who are suffering! [13] How can the wicked despise God and say to themselves, "He will not punish me"? [14] But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help. The helpless commit themselves to you; you have always helped the needy. [15] Break the power of wicked and evil people; punish them for the wrong they have done until they do it no more. [16] The LORD is king forever and ever. Those who worship other gods will vanish from his land. [17] You will listen, O LORD, to the prayers of the lowly; you will give them courage. [18] You will hear the cries of the oppressed and the orphans; you will judge in their favor, so that mortal men may cause terror no more.
