8,6,8,6
^1Wherefore is it that thou, O Lord,
dost stand from us afar?
And wherefore hidest thou thyself,
when times so troublous are?
^2The wicked in his loftiness
doth persecute the poor:
In these devices they have fram'd
let them be taken sure.
^3The wicked of his heart's desire
doth talk with boasting great;
He blesseth him that's covetous,
whom yet the Lord doth hate.
^4The wicked, through his pride of face,
on God he doth not call;
And in the counsels of his heart
the Lord is not at all.
^5His ways they always grievous are;
thy judgments from his sight
Removed are: at all his foes
he puffeth with despight.
^6Within his heart he thus hath said,
I shall not moved be;
And no adversity at all
shall ever come to me.
^7His mouth with cursing, fraud, deceit,
is fill'd abundantly;
And underneath his tongue there is
mischief and vanity.
^8He closely sits in villages;
he slays the innocent:
Against the poor that pass him by
his cruel eyes are bent.
^9He, lion-like, lurks in his den;
he waits the poor to take;
And when he draws him in his net,
his prey he doth him make.
^10Himself he humbleth very low,
he croucheth down withal,
That so a multitude of poor
may by his strong ones fall.
^11He thus hath said within his heart,
The Lord hath quite forgot;
He hides his countenance, and he
for ever sees it not.
^12O Lord, do thou arise; O God,
lift up thine hand on high:
Put not the meek afflicted ones
out of thy memory.
^13Why is it that the wicked man
thus doth the Lord despise?
Because that God will it require
he in his heart denies.
^14Thou hast it seen; for their mischief
and spite thou wilt repay:
The poor commits himself to thee;
thou art the orphan's stay.
^15The arm break of the wicked man,
and of the evil one;
Do thou seek out his wickedness,
until thou findest none.
^16The Lord is King through ages all,
ev'n to eternity;
The heathen people from his land
are perish'd utterly.
^17O Lord, of those that humble are
thou the desire didst hear;
Thou wilt prepare their heart, and thou
to hear wilt bend thine ear;
^18To judge the fatherless, and those
that are oppressed sore;
That man, that is but sprung of earth,
may them oppress no more.