Wherefore Jehovah standest thou

1 Wherefore Jehovah standest thou
away from us so far?
And wherefore hidest thou thy self
when times so troublous are?
2 Because the wicked in their pride
the needy make a prey'
They shall be taken in the plots
which they for others lay.

3 The wicked in their heart's desire
do glory; and they praise
The worldly man as blest; but they
Jehovah's anger raise.
4 The wicked through their lofty pride
on God refuse to call;
And in their multitude of thoughts
there is no GOD at all.

5 Their ways at all times grievous are:
thy judgments are on high
Above their sight: at all their foes
they blow disdainfully.
6 Within their heart they vainly say,
"we moved shall never be,
Nor yet in any time to come
adversity shall see."

7 His mouth with cursing filled is,
with wiles, deceit and wrong;
And mischief and iniquity
lie hid beneath his tongue.
8 In coverts near the villages
they sit; the harmless slay'
And for the poor who pass along
with hidden eyes they lay.

9 As lions in their coverts watch,
the feeble to surprise;
As fowlers draw them in their net,
and on a sudden seize.
10 As maimed and crouching they will seem;
that numbers of the poor
At unawares may fall into
their paws of cruel power.

11 In heart they say, "God has forgot
these things eternally;
He wholly hides his face away,
and them will never see."

[2 Part]

12 Jehovah rise thou up; O God,
lift up thine hand on high;
Cast not the meek afflicted ones
Out of thy memory.
13 O why do wicked men provoke
the mighty God, and say
Presumptuously within their heart,
'Thou never wilt repay.'

14 But spite and mischief thou dost see;
thy hand will them reward:
The poor commits himself to Thee;
Thou art the orphan's guard.
15 The wicked's arm wilt wholly break
and of the evil one;
And search out his impieties
until thou findest none;

16 Jehovah King of ages is
and of eternity:
Out of his land the heathen tribes
are perished utterly.
17 The meek afflicted ones desire
Jehovah thou dost hear;
Thou dost prepare their heart, and then
give thine attentive ear.

18 To judge and help the fatherless,
the feeble and the poor;
That earthly men may not destroy*
nor vex them any more.

The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testament, 1758