² In arrogance the wicked persecutes the poor;
    let them be caught in the devices they have planned.
³ For the wicked boasts of his soul’s desire;
    he blesses the greedy and despises the Lord.
⁴ The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek God;
    God is not in all his thoughts.
⁵ His ways are always prosperous;
    Your judgments are high and distant from him;
    as for all his enemies, they scoff at him.
⁶ He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
    for generations I shall not meet adversity.”

⁷ His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
    under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
⁸ He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
    in the secret places he murders the innocent;
    his eyes lurk against the unfortunate.
⁹ He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den;
    he lies in wait to catch the poor;
    he catches the poor, drawing them into his net.
¹⁰ He crouches; he lies low,
    so that the unfortunate fall by his strength.
¹¹ He says in his heart, “God has forgotten;
    He hides His face; He will never see it.”

¹² Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand!
    Do not forget the humble.
¹³ Why do the wicked despise God?
    He says in his heart,
    “You will require an account.”
¹⁴ You have seen it, for You observe trouble and grief,
    to repay it with Your hand.
The unfortunate one entrusts it to You;
    You are the helper of the orphan.
¹⁵ Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man;
    seek out his wickedness
    until You find none.

¹⁶ The Lord is King forever and ever;
    the nations perished from His land.
¹⁷ The desire of the humble You have heard, O Lord;
    You make their heart attentive; You bend Your ear
¹⁸ to judge the orphan and the oppressed;
    man on earth no longer trembles.