Psalms 10

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

Wherefore, O Lord, standest thou afar off? hidest thyself in times of distress?

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

In the pride of the wicked doth he hotly pursue the poor: they are seized through the plans that those have devised.

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

For the wicked boasteth of the longing of his soul, and the robber blesseth himself when he hath despised the Lord.

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

The wicked, according to the pride of his wrathfulness, [saith, ] He will not require, There is no God [in] all his plans.

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

Prosperous are his ways at all times; far in the height [remain] thy punishments away from him: all his assailants—he puffeth at them.

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

He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; I shall be for many generations, and without adversity.

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

Of the false oaths is his mouth full, and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.

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 sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes search for the unfortunate.

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.

He lieth in wait in a secret place like a lion in his den; he lieth in wait to snatch up the poor: he snatcheth up the poor, as they draweth him into his net.

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

He croucheth, he bendeth himself, and the unfortunate fall through his might.

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

He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten; he hath hidden his face; he will never see it.

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

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the afflicted.

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

For what doth the wicked despise God? [why] doth he say in his heart, Thou wilt not require it?

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.

Thou hast seen it: for thou beholdest mischief and despiteful acts, to requite it with thy hand: unto thee the unfortunate committeth himself; unto the fatherless hast thou [ever] been a helper.

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

Break thou the arm of the wicked; and of the bad man—thou wilt inquire for his wickedness [till] thou find none.

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

The Lord is King for ever and ever: nations are perished out of 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 longing of the afflicted dost thou hear, O Lord! thou wilt strengthen their heart, thou wilt cause thy ear to listen:

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

To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that not farther more shall be arrogant the mortal from the earth.