1Why, Jehovah, standest thou afar off? Why hidest thou thyself in times of distress?2The wicked, in his pride, doth hotly pursue the afflicted. They shall be taken in the devices that they have imagined.3For the wicked boasteth of his soul's desire, and he blesseth the covetous; he contemneth Jehovah.4The wicked saith, in the haughtiness of his countenance, He doth not search out: all his thoughts are, There is no God!5His ways always succeed; thy judgments are far above out of his sight; as for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.6He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; from generation to generation I shall be in no adversity.7His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.8He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in the secret places doth he slay the innocent: his eyes watch for the wretched.9He lieth in wait secretly, like a lion in his thicket; he lieth in wait to catch the afflicted: he doth catch the afflicted, drawing him into his net.10He croucheth, he boweth down, that the wretched may fall by his strong ones.11He saith in his heart, *God hath forgotten, he hideth his face, he will never see it.12Arise, Jehovah; O *God, lift up thy hand: forget not the afflicted.13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.14Thou hast seen it, for thou thyself beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite by thy hand. The wretched committeth himself unto thee; thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.15Break thou the arm of the wicked, and as for the evil man, seek out his wickedness till thou find none.16Jehovah is King for ever and ever: the nations have perished out of his land.17Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek, thou hast established their heart: thou causest thine ear to hear,18To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed one, that the man of the earth may terrify no more.
To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.1In Jehovah have I put my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?2For behold, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may in darkness shoot at the upright in heart.3If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?4Jehovah is in the temple of his holiness; Jehovah, -- his throne is in the heavens: his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men.5Jehovah trieth the righteous one; but the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth.6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone; and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.7For righteous is Jehovah; he loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright.
To the chief Musician. Upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1Save, Jehovah, for the godly man is gone; for the faithful have failed from among the children of men.2They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour: with flattering lip, with a double heart, do they speak.3Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things,4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who is lord over us?5Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set him in safety, at whom they puff.6The words of Jehovah are pure words, silver tried in the furnace of earth, purified seven times.7Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.8The wicked walk about on every side, when vileness is exalted among the children of men.