כִּי לֹא לָנֶצַח יִשָּׁכַח אֶבְיוֹן תִּקְוַת עֲנִיִּים תֹּאבַד לָעַד: קוּמָה ה' אַל יָעֹז אֱנוֹשׁ יִשָּׁפְטוּ גוֹיִם עַל פָּנֶיךָ:
Not always shall the needy be ignored, nor the hope of the impoverished forever lost. Rise, O LORD! Let not people have power; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
[AJWS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What does this text acknowledge about the experience of the needy?
2. Why does this text ask God not to have the people be in power? What happens to the needy when people are in power? What about when God rules?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)