Wickedness sitteth in the lurking places of the villages. In the secret places doth it murder the innocent, its eyes are privately set against the poor. It lieth in wait secretly as a lion in its den. It lieth in wait to catch the poor. It doth catch the poor, when it draweth them into its net. It croucheth, and humbleth itself, that the poor may fall by its strong ones. It hath said in its heart, that thou, divinity, hath forgotten and hideth thy face and will never see it. Arise, O guide, O divinity, lift up thine hand, forget not the humble. Why doth wickedness condemn divinity? It hath said in its heart, Thou wilt not require it. Thou hast seen it, for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it…with us, thy hand. The poor committeth himself unto thee, thou art the helper of the orphan. Thus shall the arm of wickedness be broken and evil as well. Seek out wickedness till thou find none.
Thou art my guide for ages and ages. Heathen ways are perished out of thy land.
Thou hast heard the desire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause the ear to hear. To bring justice to the orphan and the oppressed, that the people on the earth may no more oppress.
Text Notes
- "for ages and ages" is more literal than the 1611 "for ever and ever". The original conveys both a sense of indefinite time AND of character (of "my guide").
Reflection
The message is clear in this passage. Wickedness is here characterized by its pursuit of the innocent poor. To gain by the oppression of others. And our guide works through us: "with us...thy hand." Spirit's work within us is to prepare our heart and cause our ear to hear the real need. Then we are to "bring justice to the orphan and the oppressed." Sometimes all this seems overwhelming to me. Our inequities seem built in. Let me listen and do what I can to be the hand of Love.
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