⁴ They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.^(D)
5 Lord, they crush your people;
they oppress your heritage.^(E)
6 They kill the widow and the resident alien
and murder the fatherless.^(F)
7 They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it.
The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.”^(G)

⁸ Pay attention, you stupid people!
Fools, when will you be wise?^(H)
9 Can the one who shaped the ear not hear,
the one who formed the eye not see?^(I)
10 The one who instructs nations,
the one who teaches mankind knowledge—
does he not discipline?^(J)
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of mankind;
they are futile.^(K)

¹² Lord, how happy is anyone you discipline
and teach from your law^(L)
13 to give him relief from troubled times
until a pit is dug for the wicked.^(M)
14 The Lord will not leave his people
or abandon his heritage,^(N)
15 for the administration of justice will again be righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow^[a] it.^(O)

¹⁶ Who stands up for me against the wicked?
Who takes a stand for me against evildoers?^(P)
17 If the Lord had not been my helper,
I would soon rest in the silence of death.^(Q)
18 If I say, “My foot is slipping,”
your faithful love will support me, Lord.^(R)
19 When I am filled with cares,
your comfort brings me joy.^(S)

²⁰ Can a corrupt throne be your ally,
a throne that makes evil laws?^(T)
21 They band together against the life of the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.^(U)
22 But the Lord is my refuge;
my God is the rock of my protection.^(V)
23 He will pay them back for their sins
and destroy them for their evil.
The Lord our God will destroy them.^(W)