Psalms 10

1 Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?

Why stand you afar off, O Lord? [why] do you overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?

2 Through the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued, they are taken in the devices that they have imagined.

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 boasteth of his heart's desire, and the covetous vaunteth himself, though he contemn the LORD.

Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.

4 The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, saith: 'He will not require'; all his thoughts are: 'There is no 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 His ways prosper at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight; as for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.

His ways are profane at all times; your judgments are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.

6 He saith in his heart: 'I shall not be moved, I who to all generations shall not be in adversity.'

For he has said in his heart, I shall not be moved, [continuing] without evil from generation to generation.

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain.

8 He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in secret places doth he slay the innocent; his eyes are on the watch for the helpless.

He lies in wait with rich [men] in secret places, in order to kill the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.

9 He lieth in wait in a secret place as a lion in his lair, he lieth in wait to catch the poor; he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him up in his net.

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 He croucheth, he boweth down, and the helpless fall into his mighty claws.

He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.

11 He hath said in his heart: 'God hath forgotten; He hideth His face; He will never see.'

For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Thy hand; forget not the humble.

Arise, O Lord God; let your hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, and say in his heart: 'Thou wilt not require'?

Therefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require [it].

14 Thou hast seen; for Thou beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite them with Thy hand; unto Thee the helpless committeth himself; Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.

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 Break Thou the arm of the wicked; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness, till none be found.

Break you the arm of the sinner and wicked man: his sin shall be sought for, and shall not be found.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations are perished out of His land.

The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: you Gentiles shall perish out his land.

17 LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt direct their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to attend;

The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: your ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;

18 To right the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may be terrible no more.

to plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.