< 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 hide you yourself in times of trouble?
2 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
The wicked in his pride does persecute the poor: let them be 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 boasts of his heart’s desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
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 always grievous; your judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffs at them.
6 He says to himself, “I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress.”
He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never 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 fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
8 He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places does he murder the innocent: his eyes are privately 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 secretly as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to catch the poor: he does catch the poor, when he draws him into his net.
10 They are crushed and beaten down; the hapless fall prey to his strength.
He crouches, and humbles himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
He has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he hides his face; he will never see it.
12 Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand: forget not the humble.
13 Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
Why does the wicked scorn God? he has said in his heart, You 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 have seen it; for you behold mischief and spite, to requite it with your hand: the poor commits himself to you; you are 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 you the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till you find none.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations perish from His land.
The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen 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, you have heard the desire of the humble: you will prepare their heart, you will cause your ear to hear:
18 to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

< Psalms 10 >