Psalms 10
1 Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2 Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise.
Through the haughtiness of the wicked the poor are in distress; They are caught in the wiles which are contrived for them.
3 For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.
The wicked boasteth of his heart's desire; The rapacious renounceth and contemneth Jehovah.
4 The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:
The wicked [[saith]] in his haughtiness, “He careth not!” All his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 God is not before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times. Thy judgments are removed from his sight: he shall rule over all his enemies.
His course is always prosperous; Far in the heights are thy judgments from him; As for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6 For he hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.
He saith in his heart, “I shall never fall; I shall never be in adversity.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.
His mouth is full of perjury, deceit, and oppression; Mischief and injustice are upon his tongue.
8 He sitteth in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent.
He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; In secret places doth he murder the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed upon the poor.
9 His eyes are upon the poor man: He lieth in wait in secret like a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush that he may catch the poor man: to catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him.
He secretly lieth in wait, like a lion in a thicket; He lieth in wait to seize upon the helpless; He catcheth the poor, drawing him into his net.
10 In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
He croucheth, and lowereth himself, And the wretched fall into his paws.
11 For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.
He saith in his heart, “God doth forget; He hideth his face; he doth never see it.”
12 Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.
Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up thine hand: Forget not the distressed!
13 Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it.
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, And say in his heart, “He careth not for it”?
14 Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.
Thou dost see it; yea, thou beholdest malice and oppression, And markest it upon thy hand! The poor committeth himself to thee; Thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.
Break thou the arm of the unjust and wicked man; Seek out his wickedness, till thou canst find none!
16 The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land.
Jehovah is king for ever and ever; The gentiles shall perish out of his land.
17 The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.
Thou, O LORD! wilt hear the desires of the distressed; Thou wilt strengthen their hearts; Thou wilt lend a listening ear!
18 To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.
Thou wilt maintain the cause of the fatherless and the oppressed, That henceforth none may be driven from the land.
