Psalms 10
1 Lord, why are you so distant? Why do you hide from me in times of trouble?
Why do thou stand afar off, O Jehovah? Why do thou hide thyself in times of trouble?
2 The wicked chase down the poor with impunity. May they be trapped by the evil schemes they themselves invented.
In the pride of the wicked man the poor man is hotly pursued. Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.
3 For the wicked boast about what they want to do. They praise the greedy, but treat the Lord with contempt.
For the wicked man boasts of his heart's desire. And the greedy man renounces, yea, despises Jehovah.
4 The wicked are too proud to come to God. In all their thinking they never consider God.
The wicked man, in the pride of his countenance, says, He will not require it. All his thoughts are, There is no God.
5 What they do always seems to go well. They're unaware of God's judgments. They ridicule all their enemies.
His ways are profane at all times. Thy judgments are far above out of his sight. As for all his adversaries, he puffs at them.
6 They tell themselves, “Nothing bad is going to happen to me. I'll never be in trouble!”
He says in his heart, I shall not be moved. To all generations I shall not be in adversity.
7 Their speech is full of cursing, lies, and threats; their tongues are always ready to spread trouble and cause evil.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
8 They hide out in ambush in the villages, ready to kill innocent passers-by. They are always on the lookout for their next victim.
He sits in the lurking-places of the villages. In the covert places he murders the innocent man. His eyes are secretly set against the poor man.
9 They lie in ambush like a lion ready to attack, ready to leap out from their hiding place to seize their victim. They capture the helpless, throwing a net over them.
He lurks in secret as a lion in his covert. He lies in wait to catch the poor man. He catches the poor man when he draws him in his net.
10 Their victims are knocked down, laid low. They fall under the strength of the wicked.
He crouches, he bows down, and helpless men fall by his strong men.
11 They tell themselves, “God won't notice. He's looking the other way. He won't ever see anything.”
He says in his heart, God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.
12 Take a stand, Lord! Raise your hand to strike! Don't forget those who can't defend themselves.
Arise, O Jehovah, O God, lift up thy hand. Do not forget the poor.
13 Why do the wicked think they can treat God with such contempt? Why do they think that God won't make them accountable?
Why does the wicked man despise God, and say in his heart, Thou will not require it?
14 But you do see the trouble and grief they cause. Take it into your own hands. The helpless trust in you; you defend the orphans.
Thou have seen. For thou behold mischief and spite, to repay with thy hand. The poor man commits himself to thee. Thou have been the helper of the fatherless.
15 Destroy the power of the wicked, those evil people! Call each of them to account until there are none left!
Break thou the arm of the sinner and the evil man. His wickedness shall be sought, and shall not be found.
16 Lord, you are King forever and ever! The nations will vanish from their lands.
Jehovah is King forever and ever. The nations have perished out of his land.
17 Lord, you have heard the longing cries of those who are suffering. You will encourage them, for you will listen to them.
Jehovah, thou have heard the desire of the humble. Thou will prepare their heart, thou will cause thine ear to hear,
18 You will defend the rights of orphans and the oppressed so that those who are mere human beings here on earth will never terrorize them again.
to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may no more be terrible.
