Psalms 10
1 Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?
2 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise.
3 For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:
5 He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.
God is not before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times. Thy judgments are removed from his sight: he shall rule 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 hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.
8 He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
He sitteth in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net.
His eyes are upon the poor man: He lieth in wait in secret like a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush that he may catch the poor man: to catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him.
10 They are crushed and beaten down; the hapless fall prey to his strength.
In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.
12 Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.
Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.
13 Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath 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.
Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou wilt be 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 thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations perish from His land.
The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from 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 hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.
18 to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.
To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.
