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 far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide 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.
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
3 For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
4 The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:
The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for 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 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 For he hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.
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 of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
8 He sitteth in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent.
He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
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 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 In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
11 For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
12 Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.
Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.
13 Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it.
Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?
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.
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 sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.
Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
16 The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land.
Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
17 The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.
Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
18 To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.
to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
