1 ARST Yahweh, please do not stay far away from us. Please let us find you when enemies threaten us. BSB BSB: Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
2 ARST Wicked people proudly chase people until they can oppress them. Yahweh, please make the bad things they plan to do others to happen to them instead. BSB BSB: In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
3 ARST A wicked person even brags about what he strongly wants to do. He praises people who unjustly take things from other people. He curses Yahweh. BSB BSB: For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 ARST The wicked person is so proud that he does not care{ about God}. He plans{ to do evil things} as if there was no God. BSB BSB: In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
5 ARST What he does always prospers. He ignores doing what you say is right. He makes a mocking noise at all his enemies. BSB BSB: He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.
6 ARST He thinks,“Nothing bad can happen to me! As long as I live, nothing will trouble me.” BSB BSB: He says to himself, “I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress.”
7 ARST He constantly curses, lies, and threatens others. He is always talking about harming others and doing wrong. BSB BSB: His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
8 ARST He hides outside villages to surprise attack people. From his secret spot he kills people who have done nothing wrong. From there he sneakily watches for some unlucky person. BSB BSB: He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
9 ARST He hides in a secret spot like a lion,{ crouching} in the bushes, waiting for people to catch and oppress. He catches people and drags them away in a net to oppress them. BSB BSB: He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net.
10 ARST The wicked person makes sure everything is properly prepared so he can oppress his unlucky victim. BSB BSB: They are crushed and beaten down; the helpless fall prey to his strength.
11 ARST He convinces himself,“God is not recording what I do. He is not paying attention; he will never notice.” BSB BSB: He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
12 ARST Do something Yahweh! Prove that you are powerful God! Pay attention to oppressed people! BSB BSB: Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.
13 ARST Do not let wicked people curse you, God! Do not let him believe that you do not care about his evil deeds! BSB BSB: Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
14 ARST Surely you see everything! You pay attention to how wicked people hurt and frustrate other people so that you can punish those wicked people. Unlucky people trust that you will protect them. You help orphans. BSB BSB: But You have regarded trouble and grief; You see to repay it by Your hand. The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 ARST Cause people who are always doing very evil things to become powerless! When someone tries to oppress other people may he discover he cannot do it. BSB BSB: Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call him to account for his wickedness until none is left to be found.
16 ARST Yahweh reigns eternally! Foreign people no longer occupy his land. BSB BSB: The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations perish from His land.
17 ARST Yahweh, when oppressed people ask you to help, you listen and encourage them. You pay close attention, BSB BSB: You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear,
18 ARST so you can act justly for the orphans and oppressed people. You will stop any mere human from ever terrifying them again. BSB BSB: to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.