1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.*10.2 The wicked…: Heb. In the pride of the wicked he doth persecute

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.*10.3 heart’s: Heb. soul’s*10.3 blesseth…: or, the covetous blesseth himself, he abhorreth the LORD

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.*10.4 God is…: or, all his thoughts are, There is no God

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.*10.6 never: Heb. unto generation and generation

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.*10.7 deceit: Heb. deceits*10.7 vanity: or, iniquity

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.*10.8 are…: Heb. hide themselves

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.*10.9 secretly: Heb. in the secret places

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.*10.10 He…: Heb. He breaketh himself*10.10 by…: or, into his strong parts

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.*10.12 humble: or, afflicted

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.*10.14 committeth: Heb. leaveth

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:*10.17 prepare: or, establish

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.*10.18 oppress: or, terrify

1 oHere, waarom staan U so ver weg en hou U verborge in tye van benoudheid?

2 In sy trotsheid vervolg die goddelose die ellendige. Laat hulle gegryp word in die listige planne wat hulle uitgedink het!

3 Want die goddelose juig oor die begeerte van sy siel; en hy seën hom wat onregverdige wins maak, hy verag die Here.

4 Die goddelose, met sy neus in die hoogte, sê: Hy ondersoek nie: daar is geen God nie — dit is al sy gedagtes!

5 Sy weë is altyd voorspoedig; hoog daarbo is u gerigte, weg van hom af; al sy teëstanders — hy blaas op hulle.

6 Hy sê in sy hart: Ek sal nie wankel nie; van geslag tot geslag is ek die een wat nie in die ongeluk sal wees nie.

7 Sy mond is vol van vloek en van bedrog en verdrukking; onder sy tong is moeite en onreg.

8 Hy sit in die hinderlae by die dorpe; in skuilplekke maak hy die onskuldige dood; sy oë loer op die ongelukkige.

9 Hy loer in die skuilhoek soos 'n leeu in sy lêplek; hy loer om die ellendige te vang; hy vang die ellendige deur sy net toe te trek;

10 en verbryseld sink dié terneer, en die ongelukkiges val in sy mag.

11 Hy sê in sy hart: God vergeet dit; Hy verberg sy aangesig; vir ewig sien Hy dit nie.

12 Staan op, Here! o God, hef u hand op; vergeet die ellendiges nie!

13 Die goddelose, waarom verag hy God en sê in sy hart: U soek dit nie?

14 U het dit gesien; want U aanskou die moeite en verdriet, sodat 'n mens dit in u hand sal gee. Aan U gee die ongelukkige dit oor; U was 'n helper van die wees.

15 Verbreek die arm van die goddelose en slegte; besoek sy goddeloosheid totdat U niks vind nie!

16 Die Here is Koning vir ewig en altyd; die heidene het vergaan uit sy land.

17 Here, U het die begeerte van die ootmoediges gehoor; U sal hulle hart versterk, u oor sal luister

18 om aan die wees en verdrukte reg te doen. Geen mens uit die aarde sal langer voortgaan om skrik aan te jaag nie.