Psalms 10

1 Why standest thou afar off, O Yhwh? 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 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be 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 blesseth the covetous, whom Yhwh abhorreth.

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

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 abundance of his pride he will not seek after [him]: God is not before him.

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, 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 hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never 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 fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

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 the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

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 secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into 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, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

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 it.

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

12 Arise, O Yhwh; O God, lift up thine 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? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

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

14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art 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 the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

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

16 Yhwh is King for ever and ever: the heathen 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 Yhwh, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

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

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

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