## Do Not Forget the Afflicted ###### 1 Why do You stand afar off, O Yahweh? Why do You hide _Yourself_ in times of distress? ###### 2 In _his_ lofty pride the wicked hotly pursues the afflicted; Let them be caught in the thoughts which they have devised. ###### 3 For the wicked boasts of his soul's desire, And the greedy man curses _and_ spurns Yahweh. ###### 4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek _Him_. All his thoughts are, "There is no God." ###### 5 His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them. ###### 6 He says in his heart, "I will not be shaken; From generation to generation I will not be in adversity." ###### 7 His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness. ###### 8 He sits in the places of the villages _where one_ lies in wait; In the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate. ###### 9 He lies in wait in a hiding place as 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 crouches, he bows down, And the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones. ###### 11 He says in his heart, "God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it." ###### 12 Arise, O Yahweh; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted. ###### 13 Why has the wicked spurned God? He has said in his heart, "You will not require _it_." ###### 14 You have seen _it_, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits _himself_ to You; You have been the helper of the orphan. ###### 15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, Seek out his wickedness until You find none. ###### 16 Yahweh is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land. ###### 17 O Yahweh, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will cause Your ear to give heed ###### 18 To give justice to the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.