Read the Bible

¹ Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
² In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—
    let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.

³ For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,
    those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.
⁴ In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, "God will not seek it out";
    all their thoughts are, "There is no God."

⁵ Their ways prosper at all times;
    your judgments are on high, out of their sight;
    as for their foes, they scoff at them.
⁶ They think in their heart, "We shall not be moved;
    throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity."

⁷ Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
    under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.
⁸ They sit in ambush in the villages;
    in hiding places they murder the innocent.

Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
⁹     they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;
they lurk that they may seize the poor;
    they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.

¹⁰ They stoop, they crouch,
    and the helpless fall by their might.
¹¹ They think in their heart, "God has forgotten,
    he has hidden his face, he will never see it."

¹² Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
    do not forget the oppressed.
¹³ Why do the wicked renounce God,
    and say in their hearts, "You will not call us to account"?

¹⁴ But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,
    that you may take it into your hands;
the helpless commit themselves to you;
    you have been the helper of the orphan.

¹⁵ Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;
    seek out their wickedness until you find none.
¹⁶ The Lord is king forever and ever;
    the nations shall perish from his land.

¹⁷ O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;
    you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
¹⁸ to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
    so that those from earth may strike terror no more.^[a]