Psalms 10

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

So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away? Why have you overlooked us in opportunity, in tribulation?

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

While the impious is arrogant, the poor is enflamed. They are held by the counsels that they devise.

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

For the sinner is praised by the desires of his soul, and the iniquitous is blessed.

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 sinner has provoked the Lord; according to the multitude of his wrath, he will not seek him.

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

God is not before his sight. His ways are stained at all times. Your judgments are removed from his face. He will be master of all his enemies.

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

For he has said in his heart, “I will not be disturbed: from generation to generation without evil.”

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

His mouth is full of curses, and bitterness, and deceit. Under his tongue are hardship and sorrow.

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

He sits in ambush, with resources in hidden places, so that he may execute the innocent.

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.

His eyes catch sight of the poor. He lies in ambush, in hiding like a lion in his den. He lies in ambush, so that he may seize the poor, to seize the poor as he draws him in.

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

With his snare, he will bring him down. He will crouch down and pounce, when he has power over the poor.

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

For he has said in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has turned away his face, lest he see to the end.”

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

O Lord God, rise up. Let your hand be exalted. Do not forget the poor.

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

How has the impious one provoked God? For he has said in his heart, “He will not inquire.”

14 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.

You do see, for you examine hardship and sorrow, so that you may deliver them into your hands. The poor one has been abandoned to you. You will be a helper to the orphan.

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

Break the arm of the sinner and the malicious. His sin will be sought, and it will not be found.

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

The Lord shall reign in eternity, even forever and ever. You will perish the Gentiles from his land.

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

The Lord has heeded the desire of the poor. Your ear has listened to the preparation of their heart,

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

so as to judge for the orphan and the humble, so that man may no longer presume to magnify himself upon the earth.