Psalms 10
1 Why, Jehovah, standest thou afar off? [Why] hidest thou thyself in times of distress?
Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 The wicked, in his pride, doth hotly pursue the afflicted. They shall be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
3 For the wicked boasteth of his soul's desire, and he blesseth the covetous; he contemneth Jehovah.
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
4 The wicked [saith], in the haughtiness of his countenance, He doth not search out: all his thoughts are, There is no God!
The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
5 His ways always succeed; thy judgments are far above out of his sight; [as for] all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.
His ways are prosperous at all times. He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
6 He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; from generation to generation I shall be in no adversity.
He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
8 He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in the secret places doth he slay the innocent: his eyes watch for the wretched.
He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
9 He lieth in wait secretly, like a lion in his thicket; he lieth in wait to catch the afflicted: he doth catch the afflicted, drawing him into his net.
He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.
10 He croucheth, he boweth down, that the wretched may fall by his strong ones.
The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
11 He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten, he hideth his face, he will never see [it].
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
12 Arise, Jehovah; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the afflicted.
Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.
13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it].
Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?
14 Thou hast seen [it], for thou thyself beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite by thy hand. The wretched committeth himself unto thee; thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.
But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked, and as for the evil man, seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none.
Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
16 Jehovah is King for ever and ever: the nations have perished out of his land.
Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
17 Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek, thou hast established their heart: thou causest thine ear to hear,
Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed one, that the man of the earth may terrify no more.
to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
