< Psalms 10 >
1 So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away? Why have you overlooked us in opportunity, in tribulation?
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in times of trouble?
2 While the impious is arrogant, the poor is enflamed. They are held by the counsels that they devise.
The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3 For the sinner is praised by the desires of his soul, and the iniquitous is blessed.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.
4 The sinner has provoked the Lord; according to the multitude of his wrath, he will not seek him.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God: ] God [is] not in all his thoughts.
5 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.
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments [are] far above out of his sight: [as for] all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6 For he has said in his heart, “I will not be disturbed: from generation to generation without evil.”
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] never [be] in adversity.
7 His mouth is full of curses, and bitterness, and deceit. Under his tongue are hardship and sorrow.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity.
8 He sits in ambush, with resources in hidden places, so that he may execute the innocent.
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
9 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.
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 With his snare, he will bring him down. He will crouch down and pounce, when he has power over the poor.
He croucheth, [and] humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11 For he has said in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has turned away his face, lest he see to the end.”
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see [it].
12 O Lord God, rise up. Let your hand be exalted. Do not forget the poor.
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13 How has the impious one provoked God? For he has said in his heart, “He will not inquire.”
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it].
14 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.
Thou hast seen [it; ] for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite [it] with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the sinner and the malicious. His sin will be sought, and it will not be found.
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man: ] seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none.
16 The Lord shall reign in eternity, even forever and ever. You will perish the Gentiles from his land.
The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
17 The Lord has heeded the desire of the poor. Your ear has listened to the preparation of their heart,
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
18 so as to judge for the orphan and the humble, so that man may no longer presume to magnify himself upon the earth.
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.