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A Complaint About Evil People

10 Lord, why ·are you [L do you stand] so far away?
    Why do you hide ·when there is [L in times of] ·trouble [distress]?
Proudly the wicked ·chase down [hunt down; persecute] ·those who suffer [or the poor].
    Let them be caught in ·their own traps [L the schemes they have thought up].
They ·brag [boast] about the ·things they want [L cravings/desires of their soul].
    ·They bless the greedy but [or The greedy curse and] ·hate [reject] the Lord.
The wicked people are too proud.
    They do not ·look for [pursue; seek] God;
    there is no room for God in their thoughts.
·They always succeed [L Their ways are always successful/prosperous].
    ·They are far from keeping your laws [L Your judgments are above their grasp];
    they ·make fun of [sneer/scoff at] their enemies.
They say ·to themselves [L in their hearts], “·Nothing bad will ever happen to me [L I will never be moved/shaken];
    I will never ·be ruined [have trouble/be harmed].”
Their mouths are full of curses, ·lies [deceit], and ·threats [violence];
    ·they use their tongues for [L under their tongues is] ·sin [trouble] and evil [Rom. 3:14].
They ·hide [L lie in ambush] near the villages.
    They ·look for innocent people to kill [murder the innocent; Prov. 1:11];
    ·they watch in secret [L their eyes look intently] for the helpless.
They ·wait in hiding [L lie in ambush in a covert/cover] like a lion.
    They ·wait [L lie] to catch poor people;
    they catch the poor in nets and drag them off.
10 The poor are crushed and thrown down;
    they ·are defeated [L fall] ·because the others are stronger [L by their might].
11 The wicked ·think [L say in their hearts], “God has forgotten us.
    He ·doesn’t see what is happening [L has hidden his face and does not see anything].”

12 Lord, rise up and ·punish the wicked [L raise your hand, God].
    Don’t forget those who ·need help [are oppressed].
13 Why do wicked people ·hate [despise] God?
    They say ·to themselves [L in their hearts], “·God won’t punish us [L You will not pursue].”
14 Lord, surely you see these ·cruel [troublesome] and ·evil [grievous] things;
    look at them and ·do something [L put it in your hands].
·People in trouble [L The helpless] ·look to you for help [entrust/abandon themselves to your hands].
    You are the one who helps the orphans.
15 Break the ·power [L hand] of wicked and evil people.
    ·Punish them for the evil they have done [L You will seek out their wickedness until you find none].

16 The Lord is King forever and ever.
    ·Destroy from your land those nations [L The nations will perish from his land].
17 Lord, you have heard ·what the poor people want [the desires of the poor].
    ·Do what they ask [L You will strengthen their heart], and ·listen to them [L you will cause your ear to pay attention].
18 ·Protect [L Bring justice to] the orphans and ·put an end to suffering [L the oppressed]
    so ·they will no longer be afraid of evil people [L those from the earth may terrify no more].

A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked.

10 Why do You stand far away, O Lord?
Why do You hide [Yourself, veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble?

In pride and arrogance the wicked hotly pursue and persecute the afflicted;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.


For the wicked boasts and sings the praises of his heart’s desire,
And the greedy man curses and spurns [and even despises] the Lord.

The wicked, in the haughtiness of his face, will not seek nor inquire for Him;
All his thoughts are, “There is no God [so there is no accountability or punishment].”


His ways prosper at all times;
Your judgments [Lord] are on high, out of his sight [so he never thinks about them];
As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

He says to himself, “I will not be moved;
For throughout all generations I will not be in adversity [for nothing bad will happen to me].”

His mouth is full of curses and deceit (fraud) and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness [injustice and sin].

He lurks in ambush in the villages;
In hiding places he kills the innocent;
He lies in wait for the unfortunate [the unhappy, the poor, the helpless].

He lurks in a hiding place like a lion in his lair;
He lies in wait to catch the afflicted;
He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.
10 
He crushes [his prey] and crouches;
And the unfortunate fall by his mighty claws.
11 
He says to himself, “God has [quite] forgotten;
He has hidden His face; He will never see my deed.”

12 
Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand [in judgment];
Do not forget the suffering.
13 
Why has the wicked spurned and shown disrespect to God?
He has said to himself, “You will not require me to account.”
14 
You have seen it, for You have noted mischief and vexation (irritation) to take it into Your hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 
Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,
Seek out his wickedness until You find no more.

16 
The Lord is King forever and ever;
The nations will perish from His land.
17 
O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble and oppressed;
You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to hear,
18 
To vindicate and obtain justice for the fatherless and the oppressed,
So that man who is of the earth will no longer terrify them.