Study Desk

Lord ,^[a][b] why do You stand so far away?^(a) Why do You hide in times of trouble?^(b)

In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue the afflicted; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.^(c)

For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings;^(d) the one who is greedy curses^[c] and despises the Lord .^(e)

In all his scheming, the wicked arrogantly thinks:^[d] "There is no accountability, since God does not exist."^(f)

His ways are always secure;^[e] Your lofty judgments are beyond his sight; he scoffs at all his adversaries.^(g)

He says to himself, "I will never be moved— from generation to generation without calamity."^(h)

Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue.⁽ⁱ⁾

He waits in ambush near the villages;^(j) he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;^(k)

he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket. He lurks in order to seize the afflicted; he seizes the afflicted and drags him in his net.

So he is oppressed and beaten down; the helpless fall because of his strength.^(l)

He says to himself, "God has forgotten; He hides His face and will never see."^(m)

Rise up, Lord God! Lift up Your hand.⁽ⁿ⁾ Do not forget the afflicted.^(o)

Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, "You will not demand an account."^(p)

But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands.^(q) The helpless entrusts himself to You; You are a helper of the fatherless.^(r)

Break the arm of the wicked and evil person;^(s) call his wickedness into account until nothing remains of it.^[f](t)

The Lord is King forever and ever;^(u) the nations will perish from His land.^(v)

Lord , You have heard the desire of the humble;^[g] You will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,^(w)

doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that men of the earth may terrify them no more.^(x)

For the choir director. Davidic.

I have taken refuge in the Lord .^(a) How can you say to me, "Escape to the mountain like a bird!^[a](b)

For look, the wicked string the bow; they put the^[b] arrow on the bowstring to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.^(c)

When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"^(d)

The Lord is in His holy temple;^(e) the Lord 's throne is in heaven.^(f) His eyes watch; He examines^[c] everyone.

The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked. He hates the lover of violence.^(g)

He will rain burning coals^[d] and sulfur on the wicked; a scorching wind will be their portion.^[e](h)

For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds. The upright will see His face.⁽ⁱ⁾

For the choir director: according to Sheminith.^(a) A Davidic psalm.

Help, Lord , for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race.^(b)

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.^(c)

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully.^(d)

They say, "Through our tongues we have power;^[a] our lips are our own—who can be our master?"^(e)

"Because of the oppression of the afflicted and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up," says the Lord . "I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place."^(f)

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.^(g)

You, Lord , will guard us;^[b] You will protect us^[c] from this generation forever.^(h)

The wicked wander^[d] everywhere, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.⁽ⁱ⁾