Why are you so far away, O LORD? Why do you hide yourself when we are in trouble?

The wicked say to themselves, "God doesn't care! He has closed his eyes and will never see me!"

How much longer will you forget me, LORD? Forever? How much longer will you hide yourself from me?

O God, declare me innocent, and defend my cause against the ungodly; deliver me from lying and evil people!

Send your light and your truth; may they lead me and bring me back to Zion, your sacred hill, and to your Temple, where you live.

'I will no longer help them,' he said; 'then I will see what happens to them, those stubborn, unfaithful people.

Why do you avoid me? Why do you treat me like an enemy?

Don't abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies; don't forget your persecuted people!

Don't forget the angry shouts of your enemies, the continuous noise made by your foes.

Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God,

who heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Israel, why then do you complain that the LORD doesn't know your troubles or care if you suffer injustice?

Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The LORD is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary. No one understands his thoughts.

Then the Lamb broke open the fifth seal. I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because they had proclaimed God's word and had been faithful in their witnessing.

They shouted in a loud voice, "Almighty Lord, holy and true! How long will it be until you judge the people on earth and punish them for killing us?"