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1Why, Lord , do you stand far off?
Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?
2The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed;[#tn Heb “because of the pride of [the] wicked he burns [i.e. hotly pursues] [the] oppressed.” The singular forms רָשָׁע (rasha’, “wicked”) and עָנִי (’aniy, “oppressed”) are collective and representative, as indicated in the next line, which uses plural verb forms to describe the actions of both.]
the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.
3Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants;[#tn The translation assumes כִּי (ki) is asseverative: “indeed, certainly.” Another option is to translate “for,” understanding v. 3 as giving the reason why the wicked so arrogantly seek to destroy the helpless (so NASB, NRSV).; #tn The representative or typical evildoer is described in vv. 3-11, 13, 15. Since the singular form predominates in these verses, it has been retained in the translation.; #tn Heb “the wicked [one] boasts on account of the desire of his appetite.” The translation assumes that the preposition עַל (’al) introduces the reason why the wicked boasts (cf. this use of עַל with הָלַל (halal) in Ps 119:164 and Ezra 3:11). In this case, the “desire of his appetite” refers by metonymy to the object desired and acquired.]
the one who robs others curses and rejects the Lord .
4The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks,
“God won’t hold me accountable; he doesn’t care.”
5He is secure at all times.[#tn Heb “they are firm, his ways, at every time.” The verb חַיִל (khayil, “be firm, be strong”) occurs only here and in Job 20:21, where it has the sense “endure.”]
He has no regard for your commands;
he disdains all his enemies.
6He says to himself,[#tn Heb “he says in his heart/mind.”]
“I will never be upended,
because I experience no calamity.”
7His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words;[#tn Heb “[with] a curse his mouth is full, and lies and injury.”]
his tongue injures and destroys.
8He waits in ambush near the villages;[#tn Heb “he sits in the ambush of the villages.”]
in hidden places he kills the innocent.
His eyes look for some unfortunate victim.
9He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket;[#tn Or “in its den.”]
he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed;
he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.
10His victims are crushed and beaten down;
they are trapped in his sturdy nets.
11He says to himself,[#tn Heb “he says in his heart.” See v. 6.]
“God overlooks it;
he does not pay attention;
he never notices.”
12Rise up, Lord ![#sn Rise up, O Lord! The psalmist’s mood changes from lament to petition and confidence.]
O God, strike him down!
Do not forget the oppressed!
13Why does the wicked man reject God?[#tn The rhetorical question expresses the psalmist’s outrage that the wicked would have the audacity to disdain God.]
He says to himself, “You will not hold me accountable.”
14You have taken notice,[#tn Heb “you see.” One could translate the perfect as generalizing, “you do take notice.”]
for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering.
The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you;
you deliver the fatherless.
15Break the arm of the wicked and evil man![#sn The arm symbolizes the strength of the wicked, which they use to oppress and exploit the weak.]
Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds,
which he thought you would not discover.
16The Lord rules forever![#tn Heb “the Lord is king forever and ever.”]
The nations are driven out of his land.
17Lord , you have heard the request of the oppressed;[#sn You have heard. The psalmist is confident that God has responded positively to his earlier petitions for divine intervention. The psalmist apparently prayed the words of vv. 16-18 after the reception of an oracle of deliverance (given in response to the confident petition of vv. 12-15) or after the Lord actually delivered him from his enemies.; #tn Heb “desire.”]
you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.
18You defend the fatherless and oppressed,[#tn Heb “to judge (on behalf of),” or “by judging (on behalf of).”; #tn Heb “crushed.” See v. 10.]
so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.