Why stand'st thou Lord far off? why hid'st

Verse 1

Why standest thou Lord far off? why hidest Thy self in times of strait.

Verse 2

In pride the wicked persecutes The poor afflicted weight: Caught be they in their plots forecast.

Verse 3

For of his hearts desire The wicked boasts: and bless he doth The churl, that stirs God's ire.

Verse 4

The wicked one according to His countenances pride Will not inquire: that there's no God So all his thoughts abide.

Verse 5

His ways do always bring forth grief, On high thy judgments be Above his sight: his pressing foes Puff at them all will he.

Verse 6

Within his heart he thus hath said, I shall not moved be, From age to age that am not yet In ill adversity

Verse 7

His mouth with cursing filled is, Deceits and fallacy, Under his tongue perverseness is, Also iniquity.

Verse 8

In lurking places of the towns He sits; in secret dens He slays the harmless, 'gains the poor His eyes down shyly bends.

Verse 9

He closely lurks as lion lurks In den the poor to catch: He lurks and trapping them in's net The afflicted poor doth snatch.

Verse 10

Down doth he crouch, and to the dust He humbly bows withal, That so a multitude of poor In his strong paws may fall

Verse 11

He saith in's heart, God hat forgot, He hides his face away, So that he will not see this thing, Unto eternal aye.

Verse 12

Jehovah rise thou up, O God Lift up thine hand on high, Cast not the meek afflicted one Out of thy memory.

Verse 13

O wherefore doth the wicked man Contemn the almighty one? He in his heart saith, thou wilt not Make inquisition.

Verse 14

Thou seest, for thou markest wrong and spite With thy hand to repay. The poor leaves it to thee: thou art Of fatherless the stay.

Verse 15

The wicked's arm in pieces break, And of the evil one Search thou out his impiety, Until thou findest none.

Verse 16

Jehovah king for ever is: And to eternal aye Out of his land the heathen folk Are perished away.

Verse 17

The meek afflicted man's desire Jehovah thou dost hear: Thou firmly dost prepare their heart, Thou makest attent thine ear.

Verse 18

To judge the fatherless and poor; That add no more he may The man of sorrows from the land With terror to dismay.