Psalms 10
1 So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away? Why have you overlooked us in opportunity, in tribulation?
Why, Yahweh, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 While the impious is arrogant, the poor is enflamed. They are held by the counsels that they devise.
Because of their arrogance, wicked people chase the oppressed; but please let the wicked be trapped by their own schemes that they have devised.
3 For the sinner is praised by the desires of his soul, and the iniquitous is blessed.
For the wicked person boasts of his deepest desires; he blesses the greedy and insults Yahweh.
4 The sinner has provoked the Lord; according to the multitude of his wrath, he will not seek him.
The wicked man has a raised face; he does not seek God. He never thinks about God because he does not care at all about him.
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.
He is secure at all times, but your righteous decrees are too high for him; he snorts at all his enemies.
6 For he has said in his heart, “I will not be disturbed: from generation to generation without evil.”
He says in his heart,” I will never fail; throughout all generations I will not meet 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 deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.
8 He sits in ambush, with resources in hidden places, so that he may execute the innocent.
He waits in ambush near the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; his eyes look for some helpless victim.
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 lurks in secret like a lion in the thicket; he lies in wait to catch the oppressed. He catches the oppressed when he pulls in his net.
10 With his snare, he will bring him down. He will crouch down and pounce, when he has power over the poor.
His victims are crushed and beaten down; they fall into his strong nets.
11 For he has said in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has turned away his face, lest he see to the end.”
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten; he covers his face; he will not bother to look.”
12 O Lord God, rise up. Let your hand be exalted. Do not forget the poor.
Arise, Yahweh! Lift up your hand, God! Do not forget the oppressed.
13 How has the impious one provoked God? For he has said in his heart, “He will not inquire.”
Why does the wicked man reject God and say in his heart, “You will not hold me accountable”?
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.
You have taken notice, for you always see the one who inflicts the misery and sorrow. The helpless entrusts himself to you; you rescue the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the sinner and the malicious. His sin will be sought, and it will not be found.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil man. Make him account for his evil deeds, which he thought you would not discover.
16 The Lord shall reign in eternity, even forever and ever. You will perish the Gentiles from his land.
Yahweh is King forever and ever; the nations are driven out of his land.
17 The Lord has heeded the desire of the poor. Your ear has listened to the preparation of their heart,
Yahweh, you have heard the needs of the oppressed; you strengthen their heart, you listen to their prayer;
18 so as to judge for the orphan and the humble, so that man may no longer presume to magnify himself upon the earth.
You defend the fatherless and the oppressed so that no man on the earth will cause terror again.
