A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked.

1Why do You stand far away, LORD?

Why do You hide [a]Yourself in times of trouble?

2In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the needy;

[b]Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

3For the wicked boasts of his soul’s desire,

And [c]the greedy person curses and shows disrespect to the LORD.

4The wicked, [d]in his haughtiness, does not seek Him.

There is no God in all his schemes.

5His ways succeed at all times;

Yet Your judgments are on high, out of his sight;

As for all his enemies, he snorts at them.

6He says to himself, “I will not be moved;

[e]Throughout the generations I will not be in adversity.”

7His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression;

Under his tongue is harm and injustice.

8He sits in the lurking places of the villages;

He kills the innocent in the secret places;

His eyes [f]surreptitiously watch for the [g]unfortunate.

9He lurks in secret like a lion in his [h]lair;

He lurks to catch the needy;

He catches the needy when he pulls him into his net.

10Then he crushes the needy one, who cowers;

And [i]unfortunate people fall by his mighty power.

11He says to himself, “God has forgotten;

He has hidden His face; He will never see it.”

12Arise, LORD; God, lift up Your hand.

Do not forget the humble.

13Why has the wicked treated God disrespectfully?

He has said to himself, “[j]You will not require an account.”

14You have seen it, for You have looked at harm and provocation to [k]take it into Your hand.

The [l]unfortunate commits himself to You;

You have been the helper of the orphan.

15Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,

[m]Seek out his wickedness until You find none.

16The LORD is King forever and ever;

Nations have perished from His land.

17LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;

You will strengthen their heart, You will make Your ear attentive

18To [n]vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,

So that mankind, which is of the earth, will no longer cause terror.