Why, O Lord,
do you stand far off?
Why do you look away
in times of trouble?
In the arrogance of the wicked,
the poor are burned up:
let them be caught in the schemes
that they have devised.
For the wicked glories in
the desire of his heart,
and the greedy, congratulating himself,
blasphemes the Lord.
The impious says, "He will not seek out
to the full extent of His wrath,"
nor is there any God
in his thoughts.
His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are far from him:
he scorns his enemies.
He says in his heart,
"I will not be moved:
I will not be unhappy
through all the generations."
His mouth is full of curses,
deceit, and greed;
under his tongue
are grief and iniquity.
He sits in ambush with the rich,
in hidden places,
to kill the innocent:
his eyes spy out the pauper.
He lurks in secret,
like a lion in his den:
he lurks to seize the needy:
to seize the poor
by dragging them off.
In his trap he will humiliate them;
he will stoop and fall
when he has dominated the pauper:
For he has said in his heart,
"God has forgotten:
He has hidden his face;
He will never see."
Rise up, O Lord God,
raise your hand:
do not forget the needy.
Why do the wicked blaspheme God,
saying in their heart that
He will not seek them out?
You do see, for you observe
hardship and anger,
to move them into your hands.
The poor have taken refuge in you,
you are the one who helps the orphan.
Break the arm of the wicked and the evil:
seek out their wickedness until you find none left.
The Lord is king forever and ever:
the nations will perish from his land.
O Lord, you have heard the desire of the poor:
your ear has inclined to the readiness of their heart,
to do justice for the orphan and the humble,
that nevermore should humans tyrannize
upon the earth.
Translation Copyright © 2023 by Donald C. Traxler.
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