Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.