Psalms 10

1 Why stand you afar off, O Lord? [why] do you 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.

In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued; let them be 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 renounceth, [yea], contemneth 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 [it]. All his thoughts are, There is no God.

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

His ways are firm 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: to all generations I 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 kill the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.

He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the covert places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against 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 lurketh in the covert as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him 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 by his strong ones.

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

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

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

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the poor.

13 Therefore, 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 [it]?

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.

Thon hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to take it into thy hand: the helpless committeth [himself] unto thee; thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break you 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, seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

16 The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: you 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: your ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;

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

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

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