The Perils of the Pilgrim

1Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued; let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and the covetous renounceth, yea, contemneth the LORD.

4The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, saith, He will not require it. All his thoughts are, There is no God.

5His ways are firm at all times; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

6He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved: to all generations I shall not be in adversity.

7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

8He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the covert places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the helpless.

9He lurketh in the covert as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him in his net.

10He croucheth, he boweth down, and the helpless fall by his strong ones.

11He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the poor.

13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, and say in his heart, Thou wilt not require it?

14Thon hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to take it into thy hand: the helpless committeth himself unto thee; thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.

15Break thou the arm of the wicked; and as for the evil man, seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

16The LORD is King for ever and ever: the nations are perished out of his land.

17LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the meek: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

18To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man which is of the earth may be terrible no more.