The Perils of the Pilgrim

1Why standest thou so farre of O God? why hidest thee in the tyme of trouble?

2The vngodly of a wylfulnesse persecuteth the poore: but euery one of them shalbe taken in the craftie wylines that they haue imagined.

3For the vngodly prayseth according to his owne heartes desire: and blessing the couetous, he blasphemeth God.

4The vngodly looketh so proudly as though he cared for none at all: neither is the Lorde in all his thoughtes.

5His wayes are alwayes greeuous, but thy iudgementes are farre aboue out of his sight: and therfore he snuffeth at all his enemies.

6He hath sayde in his heart, tushe, I can not be remoued: for I can not be touched at any tyme with harme.

7His mouth is full of cursing, and of deceate, and of fraude: vnder his tongue is labour and mischiefe.

8He sitteth lurkyng in theeuishe corners of the streates: and priuily in lurking dennes he doth murther the innocent, he eyeth diligently hym that is weake.

9He lieth in wayte lurking as a Lion in his denne: he lyeth in wayte lurkyng, that he may violently carry away the afflicted, he doth carry away violentlye the afflicted, in halyng hym into his net.

10He croucheth and humbleth him selfe: so that a number of the that be weake, fall by his myght.

11He sayeth in his heart, tushe, the Lord hath forgotten: he hydeth away his face, and he wyll neuer see it.

12Aryse vp O Lorde God: lift vp thine hande, forget not the afflicted.

13Wherefore shoulde the wicked blaspheme the Lorde: whyle he sayeth in his heart, that thou wylt not call to accompt?

14Surely thou hast seene this for thou beholdest labour and spite: that thou mayest take the matter into thy hands, he that is weake leaueth it for thee, for thou art the helper of the fatherlesse.

15Breake thou the power of the vngodly and malitious: searche thou out his vngodlynes, and thou shalt finde none afterwarde in him.

16God is king for euer and euer: but the Heathen shall perishe out of the lande.

17O God, thou hast hearde the desire of the afflicted: and thou wylt settle their heart.

18Thou wylt be attentiue with thyne eare, to geue iudgement for the fatherlesse and oppressed: so no man in the earth shall once go about hereafter to do them violence.