Psalms 10

1 Why stand you afar off, O LORD? why hide you yourself in times of trouble?

So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away? Why have you overlooked us in opportunity, in tribulation?

2 The wicked in his pride does persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

While the impious is arrogant, the poor is enflamed. They are held by the counsels that they devise.

3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors.

For the sinner is praised by the desires of his soul, and the iniquitous is blessed.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

The sinner has provoked the Lord; according to the multitude of his wrath, he will not seek him.

5 His ways are always grievous; your judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffs at them.

God is not before his sight. His ways are stained at all times. Your judgments are removed from his face. He will be master of all his enemies.

6 He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

For he has said in his heart, “I will not be disturbed: from generation to generation without evil.”

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

His mouth is full of curses, and bitterness, and deceit. Under his tongue are hardship and sorrow.

8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places does he murder the innocent: his eyes are privately set against the poor.

He sits in ambush, with resources in hidden places, so that he may execute the innocent.

9 He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to catch the poor: he does catch the poor, when he draws him into his net.

His eyes catch sight of the poor. He lies in ambush, in hiding like a lion in his den. He lies in ambush, so that he may seize the poor, to seize the poor as he draws him in.

10 He crouches, and humbles himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

With his snare, he will bring him down. He will crouch down and pounce, when he has power over the poor.

11 He has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he hides his face; he will never see it.

For he has said in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has turned away his face, lest he see to the end.”

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

O Lord God, rise up. Let your hand be exalted. Do not forget the poor.

13 Why does the wicked scorn God? he has said in his heart, You will not require it.

How has the impious one provoked God? For he has said in his heart, “He will not inquire.”

14 You have seen it; for you behold mischief and spite, to requite it with your hand: the poor commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

You do see, for you examine hardship and sorrow, so that you may deliver them into your hands. The poor one has been abandoned to you. You will be a helper to the orphan.

15 Break you the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till you find none.

Break the arm of the sinner and the malicious. His sin will be sought, and it will not be found.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

The Lord shall reign in eternity, even forever and ever. You will perish the Gentiles from his land.

17 LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble: you will prepare their heart, you will cause your ear to hear:

The Lord has heeded the desire of the poor. Your ear has listened to the preparation of their heart,

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

so as to judge for the orphan and the humble, so that man may no longer presume to magnify himself upon the earth.