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 do you stand, Lord, so far away, hiding yourself 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.
The wicked, in their pride, are pursuing the helpless: let them be caught in the schemes they have plotted.
3 For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.
For the wicked boasts of their wanton greed; the robber despises the Lord, and curses him,
4 The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:
in wicked pride, thinks: God doesn’t care, God doesn’t call to account.
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.
Never a season that they do not prosper; your judgments are far above out of their sight: they scoff at their foes.
6 For he hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.
Each says in their heart, “I will never be shaken; I will live for all time untouched by misfortune.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.
Their mouths are full of deceit and oppression: under their tongues lurks mischief and wrong.
8 He sitteth in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent.
Lying in secret in some village ambush, and stealthily watching, they murder the innocent.
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.
Like a lion that lurks in a secret lair they lurk intending to catch the defenceless; to seize them, to drag them away in their net.
10 In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
Their victims are crushed, sink down to the ground. Under their claws the hapless fall.
11 For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.
The wicked say in their hearts that God has forgotten, has hidden his face, will see nothing.
12 Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.
Arise, Lord, lift up your hand, do not forget the cry of the wretched.
13 Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it.
Why do the wicked treat God with contempt, and say in their hearts, “God doesn’t care”?
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.
You have seen the trouble and sorrow; you mark it all, and will take it in hand. The hapless can count on you, helper of orphans.
15 Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil: search out their sin, till no more be found.
16 The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land.
The Lord is king forever and ever: the nations will vanish from his land.
17 The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.
Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble, inclining your ear, strengthening their hearts,
18 To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.
rights you have won for the crushed and the orphan, so no one on earth may strike terror again.
