Psalms 10
1 Why do you keep far away, O Lord? why are you not to be seen in times of trouble?
Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
2 The evil-doer in his pride is cruel to the poor; let him be taken by the tricks of his invention.
In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
3 For the evil-doer is lifted up because of the purpose of his heart, and he whose mind is fixed on wealth is turned away from the Lord, saying evil against him.
For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 The evil-doer in his pride says, God will not make a search. All his thoughts are, There is no God.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
5 His ways are ever fixed; your decisions are higher than he may see: as for his haters, they are as nothing to him.
He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.
6 He has said in his heart, I will not be moved: through all generations I will never be in trouble.
He says to himself, “I will not be moved; from age to age I am free of distress.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and false words: under his tongue are evil purposes and dark thoughts.
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
8 He is waiting in the dark places of the towns: in the secret places he puts to death those who have done no wrong: his eyes are secretly turned against the poor.
He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
9 He keeps himself in a secret place like a lion in his hole, waiting to put his hands on the poor man, and pulling him into his net.
He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net.
10 The upright are crushed and made low, and the feeble are overcome by his strong ones.
They are crushed and beaten down; the hapless fall prey to his strength.
11 He says in his heart, God has no memory of me: his face is turned away; he will never see it.
He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
12 Up! O Lord; let your hand be lifted: give thought to the poor.
Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God! Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why has the evil-doer a low opinion of God, saying in his heart, You will not make search for it?
Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
14 You have seen it; for your eyes are on sorrow and grief, to take it into your hand: the poor man puts his faith in you; you have been the helper of the child who has no father.
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.
15 Let the arm of the sinner and the evil-doer be broken; go on searching for his sin till there is no more.
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call him to account for his wickedness until none is left to be found.
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations are gone from his land.
The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations perish from His land.
17 Lord, you have given ear to the prayer of the poor: you will make strong their hearts, you will give them a hearing:
You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear,
18 To give decision for the child without a father and for the broken-hearted, so that the man of the earth may no longer be feared.
to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.
