< Psalms 10 >

1 Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
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 cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns 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 face, has no room in his thoughts for 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 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.
6 He says to himself, “I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress.”
He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
His mouth is full of cursing, 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 lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against 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 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.
10 They are crushed and beaten down; the hapless fall prey to his strength.
The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
He says 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, LORD! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.
13 Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?
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.
But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and 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 the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations perish from His land.
The LORD is King forever and ever! The nations will perish 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 man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

< Psalms 10 >