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1Wherefore is it that thou, O Lord,
dost
stand from us afar?
And
wherefore hidest thou thyself,
when
times so troublous are?
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2The wicked in his loftiness
doth
persecute the poor:
In
these devices they have fram'd
let
them be taken sure.
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3The wicked of his heart's desire
doth
talk with boasting great;
He
blesseth him that's covetous,
whom
yet the Lord doth hate.
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4The wicked, through his pride of
face,
on
God he doth not call;
And
in the counsels of his heart
the
Lord is not at all.
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5His ways they always grievous are;
thy
judgments from his sight
Removed
are: at all his foes
he
puffeth with despight.
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6Within his heart he thus hath
said,
I
shall not moved be;
And
no adversity at all
shall
ever come to me.
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7His mouth with cursing, fraud,
deceit,
is
fill'd abundantly;
And
underneath his tongue there is
mischief
and vanity.
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8He closely sits in villages;
he
slays the innocent:
Against
the poor that pass him by
his
cruel eyes are bent.
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9He, lion-like, lurks in his den;
he
waits the poor to take;
And
when he draws him in his net,
his
prey he doth him make.
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10Himself he humbleth very low,
he
croucheth down withal,
That
so a multitude of poor
may
by his strong ones fall.
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11He thus hath said within his
heart,
The
Lord hath quite forgot;
He
hides his countenance, and he
for
ever sees it not.
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12O Lord, do thou arise; O God,
lift
up thine hand on high:
Put
not the meek afflicted ones
out
of thy memory.
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13Why is it that the wicked man
thus
doth the Lord despise?
Because
that God will it require
he
in his heart denies.
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14Thou hast it seen; for their
mischief
and
spite thou wilt repay:
The
poor commits himself to thee;
thou
art the orphan's stay.
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15The arm break of the wicked man,
and
of the evil one;
Do
thou seek out his wickedness,
until
thou findest none.
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16The Lord is King through ages all,
ev'n
to eternity;
The
heathen people from his land
are
perish'd utterly.
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17O Lord, of those that humble are
thou
the desire didst hear;
Thou
wilt prepare their heart, and thou
to
hear wilt bend thine ear;
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18To judge the fatherless, and those
that
are oppressed sore;
That
man, that is but sprung of earth,
may
them oppress no more.
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