Psalms 10

1 Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?

2 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.

Through the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued, they are taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and the covetous vaunteth himself, though he contemn the LORD.

4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.

The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, saith: 'He will not require'; all his thoughts are: 'There is no God.'

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 prosper at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight; as for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

6 He says to himself, “I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress.”

He saith in his heart: 'I shall not be moved, I who to all generations shall not be in adversity.'

7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.

His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

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 the lurking-places of the villages; in secret places doth he slay the innocent; his eyes are on the watch for the helpless.

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 lieth in wait in a secret place as a lion in his lair, he lieth in wait to catch the poor; he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him up in his net.

10 They are crushed and beaten down; the hapless fall prey to his strength.

He croucheth, he boweth down, and the helpless fall into his mighty claws.

11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”

He hath said in his heart: 'God hath forgotten; He hideth His face; He will never see.'

12 Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Thy hand; forget not the humble.

13 Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”

Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, and say in his heart: 'Thou wilt not require'?

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 hast seen; for Thou beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite them with Thy hand; unto Thee the helpless committeth himself; Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.

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 wicked; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness, till none be found.

16 The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations perish from His land.

The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations are perished out of His land.

17 You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear,

LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt direct their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to attend;

18 to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.

To right the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may be terrible no more.