A Prayer for Judging the Wicked

1a Why do you stand far away, LORD?

Why do you hide in times of distress?

2The wicked one arrogantly pursues the afflicted,b

who are trapped in the schemes he devises.

3For the wicked one boasts about his own desire;

he blesses the greedy

and despises the LORD.

4With haughty arrogance, the wicked thinks,

“God will not seek justice.”c

He always presumes “There is no God.”

5Their ways always seem prosperous.

Your judgments are on high,

far away from them.

They scoff at all their enemies.

6They say to themselves,

“We will not be moved throughout all time,

and we will not experience adversity.”

7Their mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression,

their tonguesd spread trouble and iniquity.

8They waite in ambush in the villages,

they kill the innocent in secret.

9Their eyes secretly watch the helpless,

lying in wait like a lion in his den.

They lie in wait to catch the afflicted.

They catch the afflicted when they pull him into their net.

10The victimf is crushed,

and he sinks down;

the helpless fall by their might.

11The wicked say to themselves,

“God has forgotten,

he has hidden his face,

he will never see it.”

12Rise up, LORD!

Raise your hand, God.

Don’t forget the afflicted!

13Why do the wicked despise God

and say to themselves, “Godg will not seek justice.”?h

14But you do see!

You take note of trouble and grief

in order to take the matter into your own hand.

The helpless one commits himselfi to you;

you have been the orphan’s helper.

15Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;

so that when you seek out his wickedness

you will find it no more.

16The LORD is king forever and ever;

nations will perish from his land.

17LORD, you heard the desire of the afflicted;

you will strengthen them,j

you will listen carefully,

18to do justice for the orphank and the oppressed,

so that men of the earth may cause terror no more.