New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
1 O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
1
Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
2
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 For they brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the LORD .
3
He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.
4
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 Yet they succeed in everything they do. They do not see your punishment awaiting them. They sneer at all their enemies.
5
His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies.
6 They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us! We will be free of trouble forever!”
6
He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
7 Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats. Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
7
His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 They lurk in ambush in the villages, waiting to murder innocent people. They are always searching for helpless victims.
8
He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
9 Like lions crouched in hiding, they wait to pounce on the helpless. Like hunters they capture the helpless and drag them away in nets.
9
like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 Their helpless victims are crushed; they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.
10
His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
11 The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us! He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!”
11
He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.”
12 Arise, O LORD ! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless!
12
Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why do the wicked get away with despising God? They think, “God will never call us to account.”
13
Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”?
14 But you see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans.
14
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arms of these wicked, evil people! Go after them until the last one is destroyed.
15
Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.
16 The LORD is king forever and ever! The godless nations will vanish from the land.
16
The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
17
You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them.
18
defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.