ISV(i)
18 For he will not always overlook the plight of the poor, nor will the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
19 Rise up, LORD, do not let man prevail! The nations will be judged in your presence.
20 Make them afraid, LORD, Let the nations know that they are only human. Interlude
10 1A Prayer for Judging the Wicked Why do you stand far away, LORD? Why do you hide in times of distress?
2 The wicked one arrogantly pursues the afflicted, who are trapped in the schemes he devises.
3 For the wicked one boasts about his own desire; he blesses the greedy and despises the LORD.
4 With haughty arrogance, the wicked thinks, “God will not seek justice.” He always presumes “There is no God.”
5 Their ways always seem prosperous. Your judgments are on high, far away from them. They scoff at all their enemies.
6 They say to themselves, “We will not be moved throughout all time, and we will not experience adversity.”
7 Their mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression, their tongues spread trouble and iniquity.
8 They wait in ambush in the villages, they kill the innocent in secret.
9 Their eyes secretly watch the helpless, lying in wait like a lion in his den. They lie in wait to catch the afflicted. They catch the afflicted when they pull him into their net.
10 The victim is crushed, and he sinks down; the helpless fall by their might.
11 The wicked say to themselves, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
12 Rise up, LORD! Raise your hand, God. Don’t forget the afflicted!
13 Why do the wicked despise God and say to themselves, “God will not seek justice.”?
14 But you do see! You take note of trouble and grief in order to take the matter into your own hand. The helpless one commits himself to you; you have been the orphan’s helper.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; so that when you seek out his wickedness you will find it no more.
16 The LORD is king forever and ever; nations will perish from his land.
17 LORD, you heard the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen them, you will listen carefully,
18 to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that men of the earth may cause terror no more.
11 1To the Director: A Davidic Song.
Confident Trust in God I take refuge in the LORD. So how can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to the mountains.”?
2 Look, the wicked have bent their bow and placed their arrow on the string, to shoot from the darkness at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
4 The LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD’s throne is in the heavens. His eyes see, his glance examines humanity.
5 The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence, he hates.
6 He rains on the wicked burning coals and sulfur; a scorching wind is their destiny.
7 Indeed, the LORD is righteous; he loves righteousness; the upright will see him face-to-face.
12 1To the Director: On an eight stringed harp. A Davidic Psalm.
Human and Divine Words Contrasted Help, LORD, for godly people no longer exist; trustworthy people have disappeared from humanity.
2 Everyone speaks lies to his neighbor; they speak with flattering lips and hidden motives.
3 The LORD will cut off all slippery lips, and the tongue that boasts great things,
4 those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our lips belong to us. Who is master over us?”
5 “Because the poor are being oppressed, because the needy are sighing, I will now arise,” says the LORD, “I will establish in safety those who yearn for it.”
6 The words of the LORD are pure, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.
7 You, LORD, will keep them safe, you will guard them from this generation forever.
8 The wicked, however, keep walking around, exalting the vileness of human beings.
13 1To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
A Prayer for Deliverance How long? LORD, will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I struggle in my soul at night and have sorrow in my heart during the day? How long will my enemy rise up against me?
3 Look at me! Answer me, LORD, my God! Give light to my eyes! Otherwise, I will sleep in death;
4 Otherwise, my enemy will say, “I have overcome him;” Otherwise, my persecutor will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 As for me, I have trusted in your gracious love, my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has dealt bountifully with me.
14 1To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.
The Fool and God’s Response
10 1
11 1
Confident Trust in God
12 1
Human and Divine Words Contrasted
13 1
A Prayer for Deliverance
14 1
The Fool and God’s Response