Psalms 10
1 Lord, why are you so distant? Why do you hide from me in times of trouble?
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest thou 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.
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 wicked boast about what they want to do. They praise the greedy, but treat the Lord with contempt.
The wicked boasteth of his heart's desire; The rapacious renounceth and contemneth Jehovah.
4 The wicked are too proud to come to God. In all their thinking they never consider God.
The wicked [[saith]] in his haughtiness, “He careth not!” 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 course is always prosperous; Far in the heights are thy judgments from him; As for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6 They tell themselves, “Nothing bad is going to happen to me. I'll never be in trouble!”
He saith in his heart, “I shall never fall; I shall never 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 perjury, deceit, and oppression; Mischief and injustice are upon his tongue.
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 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 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 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 Their victims are knocked down, laid low. They fall under the strength of the wicked.
He croucheth, and lowereth himself, And the wretched fall into his paws.
11 They tell themselves, “God won't notice. He's looking the other way. He won't ever see anything.”
He saith in his heart, “God doth forget; He hideth his face; he doth never see it.”
12 Take a stand, Lord! Raise your hand to strike! Don't forget those who can't defend themselves.
Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up thine hand: Forget not the distressed!
13 Why do the wicked think they can treat God with such contempt? Why do they think that God won't make them accountable?
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, And say in his heart, “He careth not for 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 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 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 unjust and wicked man; Seek out his wickedness, till thou canst find none!
16 Lord, you are King forever and ever! The nations will vanish from their lands.
Jehovah is king for ever and ever; The gentiles shall perish 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.
Thou, O LORD! wilt hear the desires of the distressed; Thou wilt strengthen their hearts; Thou wilt lend a listening ear!
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.
Thou wilt maintain the cause of the fatherless and the oppressed, That henceforth none may be driven from the land.
