Revised Standard Version RSV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Why dost thou stand afar off, O LORD? Why dost thou hide thyself in times of trouble?
1
Why are you so far away, O Lord? Why do you hide yourself when we are in trouble?
2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes which they have devised.
2
The wicked are proud and persecute the poor; catch them in the traps they have made.
3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his heart, and the man greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.
3
The wicked are proud of their evil desires; the greedy curse and reject the Lord.
4 In the pride of his countenance the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God."
4
The wicked do not care about the Lord; in their pride they think that God doesn't matter.
5 His ways prosper at all times; thy judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
5
The wicked succeed in everything. They cannot understand God's judgments; they sneer at their enemies.
6 He thinks in his heart, "I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity."
6
They say to themselves, "We will never fail; we will never be in trouble."
7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
7
Their speech is filled with curses, lies, and threats; they are quick to speak hateful, evil words.
8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the hapless,
8
They hide themselves in the villages, waiting to murder innocent people. They spy on their helpless victims;
9 he lurks in secret like a lion in his covert; he lurks that he may seize the poor, he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
9
they wait in their hiding place like lions. They lie in wait for the poor; they catch them in their traps and drag them away.
10 The hapless is crushed, sinks down, and falls by his might.
10
The helpless victims lie crushed; brute strength has defeated them.
11 He thinks in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."
11
The wicked say to themselves, "God doesn't care! He has closed his eyes and will never see me!"
12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thy hand; forget not the afflicted.
12
O Lord, punish those wicked people! Remember those who are suffering!
13 Why does the wicked renounce God, and say in his heart, "Thou wilt not call to account"?
13
How can the wicked despise God and say to themselves, "He will not punish me"?
14 Thou dost see; yea, thou dost note trouble and vexation, that thou mayest take it into thy hands; the hapless commits himself to thee; thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.
14
But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help. The helpless commit themselves to you; you have always helped the needy.
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and evildoer; seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
15
Break the power of wicked and evil people; punish them for the wrong they have done until they do it no more.
16 The LORD is king for ever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land.
16
The Lord is king forever and ever. Those who worship other gods will vanish from his land.
17 O LORD, thou wilt hear the desire of the meek; thou wilt strengthen their heart, thou wilt incline thy ear
17
You will listen, O Lord, to the prayers of the lowly; you will give them courage.
18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
18
You will hear the cries of the oppressed and the orphans; you will judge in their favor, so that mortal men may cause terror no more.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.