Psalms 10
1 Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
Why stand you afar off, O Lord? [why] do you overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?
2 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes 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 man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no 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 He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.
His ways are profane at all times; your judgements are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, “I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress.”
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 violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
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; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
He lies in wait with rich [men] in secret places, in order to kill the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly 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 They are crushed and beaten down; the hapless fall prey to his strength.
He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.
12 Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.
Arise, O Lord God; let your hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.
13 Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
Therefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require [it].
14 But You have regarded trouble and grief; You see to repay it by Your hand. The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.
You see [it]; for you do observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into your hands: the poor has been left to you; you were a helper to the orphan.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call him to account for his wickedness until none is left to be found.
Break you 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 perish from His land.
The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: you Gentiles shall perish out his land.
17 You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear,
The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: your ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;
18 to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.
to plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.
