ל [Lamed]
10 Why, O Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}, do you stand at a distance?
Why do you hide yourself in times of distress?
2 The wicked one arrogantly pursues the helpless one,
But he will be caught in the schemes he devises.
3 For the wicked one boasts about his selfish desires
נ [Nun]
He disrespects Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}.
4 In his haughtiness, the wicked man makes no investigation;
All his thoughts are: “There is no Al {pre. Ahl}.”
5 His ways keep prospering,
But your judgments are beyond his understanding;
He scoffs at all his adversaries.
6 He says in his heart: “I will never be shaken;
For generation after generation
I will never see calamity.”
פ [Pe]
7 His mouth is full of curses, lies, and threats;
Under his tongue are trouble and injury.
8 He waits in ambush near the settlements;
From his hiding place he kills an innocent one.
ע [Ayin]
His eyes are watching for an unfortunate victim.
9 He waits in his hiding place like a lion in its lair.
He waits to seize the helpless one.
He seizes the helpless one when he pulls his net shut.
10 The victim is crushed and brought down;
The unfortunate ones fall into his clutches.
11 He says in his heart: “Al {pre. Ahl} has forgotten.
He has turned away his face.
He never notices.”
ק [Qoph]
12 Rise up, O Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}. O Al {pre. Ahl}, lift up your hand.
Do not forget the helpless ones.
13 Why has the wicked one disrespected Al {pre. Ahl}?
He says in his heart: “You will not hold me accountable.”
ר [Resh]
14 But you do see trouble and distress.
You look on and take matters in hand.
To you the unfortunate victim turns;
You are the helper for the fatherless child.
ש [Shin]
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man,
So that when you search for his wickedness,
You will find it no more.
16 Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah} is King forever and ever.
The nations have perished from the earth.
ת [Taw]
17 But you will hear the request of the meek, O Ahv'ah {Heb. Yahvah}.
You will make their hearts firm and pay close attention to them.
18 You will render justice to the fatherless and to those who are crushed,
So that mortal man of the earth may no longer make them afraid.