Psalms 10

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

Why do you stand, Lord, so far away, hiding yourself in times of trouble?

2 While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is hotly pursued: [the wicked] are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine.

The wicked, in their pride, are pursuing the helpless: let them be caught in the schemes they have plotted.

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

For the wicked boasts of their wanton greed; the robber despises the Lord, and curses him,

4 The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his pride he will not seek after [him]: God is not before him.

in wicked pride, thinks: God doesn’t care, God doesn’t call to account.

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

Never a season that they do not prosper; your judgments are far above out of their sight: they scoff at their foes.

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

Each says in their heart, ‘I will never be shaken; I will live for all time untouched by misfortune.’

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

Their mouths are full of deceit and oppression: under their tongues lurks mischief and wrong.

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

Lying in secret in some village ambush, and stealthily watching, they murder the innocent.

9 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.

Like a lion that lurks in a secret lair they lurk intending to catch the defenceless; to seize them, to drag them away in their net.

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

Their victims are crushed, sink down to the ground. Under their claws the hapless fall.

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

The wicked say in their hearts that God has forgotten, has hidden his face, will see nothing.

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

Arise, Lord, lift up your hand, do not forget the cry of the wretched.

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

Why do the wicked treat God with contempt, and say in their hearts, ‘God doesn’t care’?

14 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.

You have seen the trouble and sorrow; you mark it all, and will take it in hand. The hapless can count on you, helper of orphans.

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

Break the arm of the wicked and evil: search out their sin, till no more be found.

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

The Lord is king forever and ever: the nations will vanish from his land.

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

Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble, inclining your ear, strengthening their hearts,

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

rights you have won for the crushed and the orphan, so no one on earth may strike terror again.