Psalms 10

1 Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? [why] dost thou overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?

Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?

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

Through the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued, they are taken in the devices that they have imagined.

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

For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and the covetous vaunteth himself, though he contemn the LORD.

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

The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, saith: 'He will not require'; all his thoughts are: 'There is no God.'

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

His ways prosper at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight; as for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

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

He saith in his heart: 'I shall not be moved, I who to all generations shall not be in adversity.'

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

His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

8 He lies in wait with rich [men] in secret places, in order to slay the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.

He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in secret places doth he slay the innocent; his eyes are on the watch for the helpless.

9 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.

He lieth in wait in a secret place as a lion in his lair, he lieth in wait to catch the poor; he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him up in his net.

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

He croucheth, he boweth down, and the helpless fall into his mighty claws.

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

He hath said in his heart: 'God hath forgotten; He hideth His face; He will never see.'

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

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

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

Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, and say in his heart: 'Thou wilt not require'?

14 Thou seest [it]; for thou dost observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into thy hands: the poor has been left to thee; thou wast a helper to the orphan.

Thou hast seen; for Thou beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite them with Thy hand; unto Thee the helpless committeth himself; Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.

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

Break Thou the arm of the wicked; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness, till none be found.

16 The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish out his land.

The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations are perished out of His land.

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

LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt direct their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to attend;

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

To right the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may be terrible no more.