Psalms 10

1 Why do you keep far away, O Lord? why are you not to be seen in times of trouble?

Why stand you afar off, O Lord? [why] do you overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?

2 The evil-doer in his pride is cruel to the poor; let him be taken by the tricks of his invention.

While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is hotly pursued: [the wicked] are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine.

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.

Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.

4 The evil-doer in his pride says, God will not make a search. All his thoughts are, There is no God.

The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his pride he will not seek after [him]: God is not before him.

5 His ways are ever fixed; your decisions are higher than he may see: as for his haters, they are as nothing to him.

His ways are profane at all times; your judgments are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.

6 He has said in his heart, I will not be moved: through all generations I will never be in trouble.

For he has said in his heart, I shall not be moved, [continuing] without evil from generation to generation.

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and false words: under his tongue are evil purposes and dark thoughts.

Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain.

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 with rich [men] in secret places, in order to kill the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.

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 in secret as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to ravish the poor, to ravish the poor when he draws him [after him]: he will bring him down in his snare.

10 The upright are crushed and made low, and the feeble are overcome by his strong ones.

He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.

11 He says in his heart, God has no memory of me: his face is turned away; he will never see it.

For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.

12 Up! O Lord; let your hand be lifted: give thought to the poor.

Arise, O Lord God; let your hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.

13 Why has the evil-doer a low opinion of God, saying in his heart, You will not make search for it?

Therefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require [it].

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.

You see [it]; for you do observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into your hands: the poor has been left to you; you were a helper to the orphan.

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 you the arm of the sinner and wicked man: his sin shall be sought for, and shall not be found.

16 The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations are gone from his land.

The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: you Gentiles shall perish out 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:

The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: your ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;

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 plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.