A prayer for help
1Why are you far away, LORD?
Why do you hide yourself
when I am in trouble?
2Proud and brutal people
hunt down the poor.
But let them get caught
by their own evil plans!
3The wicked boast about
their deepest desires.
Those greedy people hate
and curse you, LORD.
4The wicked are too proud
to turn to you
or even think about you.
5They are always successful,
though they can't understand
your teachings,
and they keep sneering
at their enemies.
6In their hearts they say,
“Nothing can hurt us!
We'll always be happy
and free from trouble.”
7They curse and tell lies,
and all they talk about
is how to be cruel
or how to do wrong.
8They hide outside villages,
waiting to strike and murder
some innocent victim.
9They are hungry lions
hiding in the bushes,
hoping to catch
some helpless passer-by.
They trap the poor in nets
and drag them away.
10They crouch down and wait
to grab a victim.
11They say, “God can't see!
He's got a blindfold on.”
12Do something, LORD God,
and use your powerful arm
to help those in need.
13The wicked don't respect you.
In their hearts they say,
“God won't punish us!”
14But you see the trouble
and the distress,
and you will do something.
The poor can count on you,
and so can orphans.
15Now break the arms
of all merciless people.
Punish them for doing wrong
and make them stop.
16Our LORD, you will always rule,
but nations will vanish
from the earth.
17You listen to the longings
of those who suffer.
You offer them hope,
and you pay attention
to their cries for help.
18You defend orphans
and everyone else in need,
so that no one on earth
can terrify others again.