Study Desk

Why, Lord , do you stand far off?^(a) Why do you hide yourself^(b) in times of trouble?

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,^(c) who are caught in the schemes he devises.

He boasts^(d) about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord .^(e)

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.^(f)

His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by^[b] him; he sneers at all his enemies.

He says to himself, "Nothing will ever shake me." He swears, "No one will ever do me harm."^(g)

His mouth is full^(h) of lies and threats;⁽ⁱ⁾ trouble and evil are under his tongue.^(j)

He lies in wait^(k) near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent.^(l) His eyes watch in secret for his victims;

like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless;^(m) he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.⁽ⁿ⁾

His victims are crushed,^(o) they collapse; they fall under his strength.

He says to himself, "God will never notice;^(p) he covers his face and never sees."^(q)

Arise,^(r) Lord ! Lift up your hand,^(s) O God. Do not forget the helpless.^(t)

Why does the wicked man revile God?^(u) Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?^(v)

But you, God, see the trouble^(w) of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you;^(x) you are the helper^(y) of the fatherless.

Break the arm of the wicked man;^(z) call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.

The Lord is King for ever and ever;^(aa) the nations^(ab) will perish from his land.

You, Lord , hear the desire of the afflicted;^(ac) you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,^(ad)

defending the fatherless^(ae) and the oppressed,^(af) so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

For the director of music. Of David.

In the Lord I take refuge.^(a) How then can you say to me: "Flee^(b) like a bird to your mountain.^(c)

For look, the wicked bend their bows;^(d) they set their arrows^(e) against the strings to shoot from the shadows^(f) at the upright in heart.^(g)

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

The Lord is in his holy temple;⁽ⁱ⁾ the Lord is on his heavenly throne.^(j) He observes everyone on earth;^(k) his eyes examine^(l) them.

The Lord examines the righteous,^(m) but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.⁽ⁿ⁾

On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur;^(o) a scorching wind^(p) will be their lot.

For the Lord is righteous,^(q) he loves justice;^(r) the upright^(s) will see his face.^(t)

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

Help, Lord , for no one is faithful anymore;^(a) those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

Everyone lies^(b) to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.^(c)

May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(d) and every boastful tongue—^(e)

those who say, "By our tongues we will prevail;^(f) our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?"

"Because the poor are plundered^(g) and the needy groan,^(h) I will now arise,⁽ⁱ⁾" says the Lord . "I will protect them^(j) from those who malign them."

And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(k) like silver purified^(l) in a crucible,^(m) like gold^[c] refined seven times.

You, Lord , will keep the needy safe⁽ⁿ⁾ and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(o)

who freely strut^(p) about when what is vile is honored by the human race.