³ For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings;^(D)
the one who is greedy curses^[c] and despises the Lord.^(E)
4 In all his scheming,
the wicked person arrogantly thinks,^[d]
‘There’s no accountability,
since there’s no God.’^(F)
5 His ways are always secure;^[e]
your lofty judgements have no effect on him;^[f]
he scoffs at all his adversaries.^(G)
6 He says to himself, ‘I will never be moved –
from generation to generation I will be without calamity.’^(H)
7 Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth;
trouble and malice are under his tongue.^(I)
8 He waits in ambush near settlements;^(J)
he kills the innocent in secret places.
His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;^(K)
9 he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket.
He lurks in order to seize a victim;
he seizes a victim and drags him in his net.
¹⁰ So he is oppressed and beaten down;
helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength.^(L)
11 He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten;
he hides his face and will never see.’^(M)

¹² Rise up, Lord God! Lift up your hand.^(N)
Do not forget the oppressed.^(O)
13 Why has the wicked person despised God?
He says to himself, ‘You will not demand an account.’^(P)
14 But you yourself have seen trouble and grief,
observing it in order to take the matter into your hands.^(Q)
The helpless one entrusts himself to you;
you are a helper of the fatherless.^(R)
15 Break the arm of the wicked, evil person,^(S)
until you look for his wickedness,
but it can’t be found.^(T)

¹⁶ The Lord is King for ever and ever;^(U)
the nations will perish from his land.^(V)
17 Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble;
you will strengthen their hearts.
You will listen carefully,^(W)
18 doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed
so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.^(X)