Hear Us, Shepherd (80)

`Why_ do you stand far / off~, LORD?

`Why_ do you hide yourself in / times of trouble?

In `arrogance, the wicked hunt_ / down the weak.

`Let them be caught in the schemes that / they devise.

`For the wicked boasts of / his heart’s cravings.

`He blesses the greedy and despises / the~ LORD.

The `wicked, in the pride_ / of his face,

has `no room in his / thoughts for God.

(Ref)

His `ways are prosperous at / all~ times.

`He is arrogant_, and re / jects your laws. • • He `scoffs_ at his / adversaries.

`He says in his heart_, “I shall / not be shaken. 

For `generations I shall / have no trouble.”

His `mouth is full of cursing, deceit, / and oppression.

`Under his_ tongue are trouble and in / iquity.

He `lies in wait_ near the / villages. • From `ambushes, he murders the_ / innocent.

His `eyes_ watch in secret / for the helpless.

He `lurks in secret as a lion in his / am~ bush.

He `lies in wait to / catch the helpless.

He `catches / the~ helpless 

`when he draws him / in his net.

(Ref)

The `helpless are_ crushed_. / They collapse.

They `fall_ under / his~ strength.

`He says in his heart_, “God_ / has forgotten. 

He `hides his face_. He will / never see it.”

A `rise_, LORD! O God, lift / up your hand!

Do `not forget the / help~ less.

`Why_ does the wicked one de / spise~ God,

and `say in his heart, “God will not call me in / to account?”

`But you do see trouble / and~ grief.

`You consider it to take it into / your~ hand.

`You_ / help the victim 

`and the / fatherless.

(Ref)

`Break the arm_ / of the wicked.

As `for the evildoer, seek out his_ wickedness until you / find no more.

The `LORD is King forever / and~ ever!

The `nations will_ perish out of / his~ land.

`LORD_, you have heard_ the desire_ / of the humble.

`You will strengthen their_ hearts. You will in / cline your ear,

de `fending the_ fatherless and / the oppressed,

`that mere mortals who are of the earth may terri / fy no more.