The Perils of the Pilgrim

1Why, Jehovah, dost Thou stand at a distance? Thou dost hide in times of adversity,

2Through the pride of the wicked, Is the poor inflamed, They are caught in devices that they devised.

3Because the wicked hath boasted Of the desire of his soul, And a dishonest gainer he hath blessed, He hath despised Jehovah.

4The wicked according to the height of his face, inquireth not. ‘God is not!’ [are] all his devices.

5Pain do his ways at all times, On high [are] Thy judgments before him, All his adversaries — he puffeth at them.

6He hath said in his heart, ‘I am not moved,’ To generation and generation not in evil.

7Of oaths his mouth is full, And deceits, and fraud: Under his tongue [is] perverseness and iniquity,

8He doth sit in an ambush of the villages, In secret places he doth slay the innocent. His eyes for the afflicted watch secretly,

9He lieth in wait in a secret place, as a lion in a covert. He lieth in wait to catch the poor, He catcheth the poor, drawing him into his net.

10He is bruised — he boweth down, Fallen by his mighty ones hath the afflicted.

11He said in his heart, ‘God hath forgotten, He hath hid His face, He hath never seen.’

12Arise, O Jehovah! O God, lift up Thy hand! Forget not the humble.

13Wherefore hath the wicked despised God? He hath said in his heart, ‘It is not required.’

14Thou hast seen, For Thou perverseness and anger beholdest; By giving into Thy hand, On Thee doth the afflicted leave [it], Of the fatherless Thou hast been an helper.

15Break the arm of the wicked and the evil, Seek out his wickedness, find none;

16Jehovah [is] king to the age, and for ever, The nations have perished out of His land!

17The desire of the humble Thou hast heard, O Jehovah. Thou preparest their heart; Thou causest Thine ear to attend,

18To judge the fatherless and bruised: He addeth no more to oppress — man of the earth!