10:1 Why, LORD, do you stand far off?

Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?

2 The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed;

the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.

3 Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants;

the one who robs others curses and rejects the LORD.

4 The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks,

"God won't hold me accountable; he doesn't care."

5 He is secure at all times.

He has no regard for your commands;

he disdains all his enemies.

6 He says to himself,

"I will never be upended,

because I experience no calamity."

7 His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words;

his tongue injures and destroys.

8 He waits in ambush near the villages;

in hidden places he kills the innocent.

His eyes look for some unfortunate victim.

9 He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket;

he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed;

he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.

10 His victims are crushed and beaten down;

they are trapped in his sturdy nets.

11 He says to himself,

"God overlooks it;

he does not pay attention;

he never notices."

12 Rise up, LORD!

O God, strike him down!

Do not forget the oppressed!

13 Why does the wicked man reject God?

He says to himself, "You will not hold me accountable."

14 You have taken notice,

for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering.

The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you;

you deliver the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man!

Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds,

which he thought you would not discover.

16 The LORD rules forever!

The nations are driven out of his land.

17 LORD, you have heard the request of the oppressed;

you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.

18 You defend the fatherless and oppressed,

so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.

11:1 For the music director; by David.

In the LORD I have taken shelter.

How can you say to me,

"Flee to a mountain like a bird!

2 For look, the wicked prepare their bows,

they put their arrows on the strings,

to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.

3 When the foundations are destroyed,

what can the godly accomplish?"

4 The LORD is in his holy temple;

the LORD's throne is in heaven.

His eyes watch;

his eyes examine all people.

5 The LORD approves of the godly,

but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.

6 May the LORD rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked!

A whirlwind is what they deserve!

7 Certainly the LORD is just;

he rewards godly deeds;

the upright will experience his favor.

12:1 For the music director; according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.

Deliver, LORD!

For the godly have disappeared;

people of integrity have vanished.

2 People lie to one another;

they flatter and deceive.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,

and the tongue that boasts!

4 They say, "We speak persuasively;

we know how to flatter and boast.

Who is our master?"

5 "Because of the violence done to the oppressed,

because of the painful cries of the needy,

I will spring into action," says the LORD.

"I will provide the safety they so desperately desire."

6 The LORD's words are absolutely reliable.

They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,

where it is thoroughly refined.

7 You, LORD, will protect them;

you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,

8 for the wicked seem to be everywhere,

when people promote evil.

The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® copyright © 1996, 2019, used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.