Psalms 10
1 Lord, why are you so distant? Why do you hide from me in times of trouble?
Why stand you afar off, O Lord? [why] do you overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?
2 The wicked chase down the poor with impunity. May they be trapped by the evil schemes they themselves invented.
While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is hotly pursued: [the wicked] are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine.
3 For the wicked boast about what they want to do. They praise the greedy, but treat the Lord with contempt.
Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.
4 The wicked are too proud to come to God. In all their thinking they never consider God.
The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his pride he will not seek after [him]: God is not before him.
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; your judgements are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.
6 They tell themselves, “Nothing bad is going to happen to me. I'll never be in trouble!”
For he has said in his heart, I shall not be moved, [continuing] without evil from generation to generation.
7 Their speech is full of cursing, lies, and threats; their tongues are always ready to spread trouble and cause evil.
Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain.
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 lies in wait with rich [men] in secret places, in order to kill the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.
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 lies in wait in secret as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to ravish the poor, to ravish the poor when he draws him [after him]: he will bring him down in his snare.
10 Their victims are knocked down, laid low. They fall under the strength of the wicked.
He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.
11 They tell themselves, “God won't notice. He's looking the other way. He won't ever see anything.”
For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.
12 Take a stand, Lord! Raise your hand to strike! Don't forget those who can't defend themselves.
Arise, O Lord God; let your hand be lifted up: forget not 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?
Therefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He 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.
You see [it]; for you do observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into your hands: the poor has been left to you; you were a helper to the orphan.
15 Destroy the power of the wicked, those evil people! Call each of them to account until there are none left!
Break you the arm of the sinner and wicked man: his sin shall be sought for, and shall not be found.
16 Lord, you are King forever and ever! The nations will vanish from their lands.
The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: you Gentiles shall perish out 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.
The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: your ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;
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 plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.
