crossref-it.info - AS/A2 English Literature Study Guides - texts in context.- King James Version
- Today's New International Version
1Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? 2The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 3For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. 4The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. 8He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. 12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. 13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 14Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. 15Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. 16The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. 17LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
1Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2In their arrogance the wicked hunt down the weak, catching them in the schemes they devise. 3They boast about the cravings of their hearts; they bless the greedy and revile the LORD. 4In their pride the wicked do not seek him; in all their thoughts there is no room for God. 5Their ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by them; they sneer at all their enemies. 6They say to themselves, 'Nothing will ever shake us.' They swear, 'No-one will ever do us harm.' 7Their mouths are full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under their tongues. 8They lie in wait near the villages; from ambush they murder the innocent. Their eyes watch in secret for their victims; 9like a lion in cover they lie in wait. They lie in wait to catch the helpless; they catch the helpless and drag them off in their nets. 10[The innocent] are crushed, they collapse; they fall victim to superior strength. 11The wicked say to themselves, 'God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.' 12Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. 13Why do the wicked revile God? Why do they say to themselves, 'He won't call us to account'? 14But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 15Break the arms of the wicked and the evildoers; call them to account for their wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. 16The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 17You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.