² In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
    let them ^(D)be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
³ For the wicked ^(E)boasts of the desires of his soul,
    and the one greedy for gain ^(F)curses^[a] and ^(G)renounces the Lord.
⁴ In the pride of his face^[b] the wicked does not ^(H)seek him;^[c]
    all his thoughts are, ^(I)“There is no God.”
⁵ His ways prosper at all times;
    your judgments are on high, ^(J)out of his sight;
    as for all his foes, he ^(K)puffs at them.
⁶ He ^(L)says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
    throughout all generations I ^(M)shall not meet adversity.”
^7 (N)His mouth is filled with cursing and ^(O)deceit and ^(P)oppression;
    ^(Q)under his tongue are ^(R)mischief and ^(S)iniquity.
⁸ He sits in ambush in the villages;
    in ^(T)hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
⁹     he lurks in ambush like ^(U)a lion in his ^(V)thicket;
he ^(W)lurks that he may seize the poor;
    he seizes the poor when he draws him into his ^(X)net.
¹⁰ The helpless are crushed, sink down,
    and fall by his might.
¹¹ He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
    he has ^(Y)hidden his face, he ^(Z)will never see it.”

^12 (AA)Arise, O Lord; O God, ^(AB)lift up your hand;
    ^(AC)forget not the afflicted.
¹³ Why does the wicked ^(AD)renounce God
    and say in his heart, “You will not ^(AE)call to account”?
¹⁴ But you do see, for you ^(AF)note mischief and vexation,
    that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless ^(AG)commits himself;
    you have been ^(AH)the helper of the fatherless.
^15 (AI)Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
    ^(AJ)call his wickedness to account till you find none.

^16 (AK)The Lord is king forever and ever;
    the ^(AL)nations perish from his land.
¹⁷ O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you will ^(AM)strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
¹⁸ to ^(AN)do justice to the fatherless and ^(AO)the oppressed,
    so that ^(AP)man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

^10 (Q)Hear, ^(R)my son, and accept my words,
    that ^(S)the years of your life may be many.
¹¹ I have ^(T)taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
¹² When you walk, ^(U)your step will not be hampered,
    and ^(V)if you run, you will not stumble.
^13 (W)Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your ^(X)life.
^14 (Y)Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of the evil.
¹⁵ Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.
¹⁶ For they ^(Z)cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness
    ^(AA)and drink the wine of violence.
¹⁸ But ^(AB)the path of the righteous is like ^(AC)the light of dawn,
    which shines ^(AD)brighter and brighter until ^(AE)full day.
^19 (AF)The way of the wicked is like deep ^(AG)darkness;
    they do not know over what they ^(AH)stumble.

^20 (AI)My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
^21 (AJ)Let them not escape from your sight;
    ^(AK)keep them within your heart.
²² For they are ^(AL)life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their^[b] flesh.
²³ Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for ^(AM)from it flow ^(AN)the springs of life.
²⁴ Put away from you ^(AO)crooked speech,
    and put ^(AP)devious talk far from you.
^25 (AQ)Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
^26 (AR)Ponder^[c] the path of your feet;
    ^(AS)then all your ways will be sure.
^27 (AT)Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.