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.

The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

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 boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

4 The evil-doer in his pride says, God will not make a search. All his thoughts are, 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 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 always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: 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 hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for 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 cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

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 the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are secretly 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 lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

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

He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

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

He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

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

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the humble.

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

Why doth the wicked despise God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt 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.

Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to repay it with 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 wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou shalt find none.

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

The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen have perished 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:

LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thy ear to hear:

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 judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.