Psalms 10
1 Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? [why] dost thou overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?
2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is hotly pursued: [the wicked] are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine.
3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns the LORD.
Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.
4 The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his pride he will not seek after [him]: God is not before him.
5 His ways are prosperous at all times. He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
His ways are profane at all times; thy judgments are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.
6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”
For he has said in his heart, I shall not be moved, [continuing] without evil from generation to generation.
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain.
8 He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
He lies in wait with rich [men] in secret places, in order to slay the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.
9 He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.
He lies in wait in secret as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to ravish the poor, to ravish the poor when he draws him [after him]: he will bring him down in his snare.
10 The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.
11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.
12 Arise, LORD! God, lift up your hand! Do not forget the helpless.
Arise, O Lord God; let thy hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.
13 Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God will not call me into account”?
Wherefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require [it].
14 But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
Thou seest [it]; for thou dost observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into thy hands: the poor has been left to thee; thou wast a helper to the orphan.
15 Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
Break thou the arm of the sinner and wicked man: his sin shall be sought for, and shall not be found.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish out his land.
17 LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: thine ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;
18 to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
to plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.
