1Why are you so distant, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2The wicked person arrogantly pursues oppressed people. He will be caught in the schemes that he planned.

3The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires. He blesses robbers, but he curses the LORD.

4He turns up his nose [and says], "God doesn't care." His every thought [concludes], "There is no God."

5He always seems to succeed. Your judgments are beyond his understanding. He spits at all his opponents.

6He says to himself, "Nothing can shake me. I'll never face any trouble."

7His mouth is full of cursing, deception, and oppression. Trouble and wrongdoing are on the tip of his tongue.

8He waits in ambush in the villages. From his hiding places he kills innocent people. His eyes are on the lookout for victims.

9He lies in his hiding place like a lion in his den. He hides there to catch oppressed people. He catches oppressed people when he draws them into his net.

10[His] victims are crushed. They collapse, and they fall under [the weight of] his power.

11He says to himself, "God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He will never see it!"

12Arise, O LORD! Lift your hand, O God. Do not forget oppressed people!

13Why does the wicked person despise God? Why does he say to himself, "God doesn't care"?

14You have seen [it]; yes, you have taken note of trouble and grief and placed them under your control. The victim entrusts himself to you. You alone have been the helper of orphans.

15Break the arm of the wicked and evil person. Punish his wickedness until you find no more.

16The LORD is king forever and ever. The nations have vanished from his land.

17You have heard the desire of oppressed people, O LORD. You encourage them. You pay close attention to them

18in order to provide justice for orphans and oppressed people so that no mere mortal will terrify them again.