Psalms 10
1 Why do you keep far away, O Lord? why are you not to be seen in times of trouble?
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest thou thyself 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.
Through the haughtiness of the wicked the poor are in distress; They are caught in the wiles which are contrived for them.
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.
The wicked boasteth of his heart's desire; The rapacious renounceth and contemneth Jehovah.
4 The evil-doer in his pride says, God will not make a search. All his thoughts are, There is no God.
The wicked [[saith]] in his haughtiness, “He careth not!” All his thoughts are, “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.
His course is always prosperous; Far in the heights are thy judgments from him; As for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6 He has said in his heart, I will not be moved: through all generations I will never be in trouble.
He saith in his heart, “I shall never fall; I shall never be in adversity.”
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 perjury, deceit, and oppression; Mischief and injustice are upon 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 sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; In secret places doth he murder the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed upon 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 secretly lieth in wait, like a lion in a thicket; He lieth in wait to seize upon the helpless; He catcheth the poor, drawing him into his net.
10 The upright are crushed and made low, and the feeble are overcome by his strong ones.
He croucheth, and lowereth himself, And the wretched fall into his paws.
11 He says in his heart, God has no memory of me: his face is turned away; he will never see it.
He saith in his heart, “God doth forget; He hideth his face; he doth never see it.”
12 Up! O Lord; let your hand be lifted: give thought to the poor.
Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up thine hand: Forget not the distressed!
13 Why has the evil-doer a low opinion of God, saying in his heart, You will not make search for it?
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, And say in his heart, “He careth not for 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.
Thou dost see it; yea, thou beholdest malice and oppression, And markest it upon thy hand! The poor committeth himself to thee; Thou art 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 thou the arm of the unjust and wicked man; Seek out his wickedness, till thou canst find none!
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations are gone from his land.
Jehovah is king for ever and ever; The gentiles shall perish out of 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:
Thou, O LORD! wilt hear the desires of the distressed; Thou wilt strengthen their hearts; Thou wilt lend a listening 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.
Thou wilt maintain the cause of the fatherless and the oppressed, That henceforth none may be driven from the land.
