Psalms 146:9

The Lord protects those residing outside their native land; he lifts up the fatherless and the widow, ¹  but he opposes the wicked. ² 

De 10:18,19; De 16:11; 2Sa 15:31; 2Sa 17:23; Es 5:14; Es 7:10; Es 9:25; Job 5:12-14; Ps 18:26; Ps 68:5; Ps 83:13-17; Ps 145:20; Ps 147:6; Pr 4:19; Pr 15:25; Jer 49:11; Ho 14:3; Mal 3:5; 1Co 3:19; Jas 1:27

¹ sn God is depicted here as a just ruler. In the ancient Near Eastern world a king was responsible for promoting justice, including caring for the weak and vulnerable, epitomized by resident aliens, the fatherless, and widows.

² tn Heb “he makes the way of the wicked twisted.” The “way of the wicked” probably refers to their course of life (see Prov 4:19; Jer 12:1). God makes their path tortuous in the sense that he makes them pay the harmful consequences of their actions.