Psalms 10

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

Why, YHWH, do You stand at a distance? Do You hide in times of adversity?

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

Through the pride of the wicked, Is the poor inflamed, They are caught in schemes that they devised.

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

Because the wicked has boasted Of the desire of his soul, And he has blessed a dishonest gainer, He has despised YHWH.

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

The wicked does not inquire according to the height of his face. “There is no God!” [are] all his schemes.

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

His ways writhe at all times, Your judgments [are] on high before him, All his adversaries—he puffs at them.

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

He has said in his heart, “I am not moved, [And am] not in calamity to generation and generation.”

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

His mouth is full of oaths, And deceits, and fraud: Under his tongue [is] perverseness and iniquity,

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

He sits in an ambush of the villages, He slays the innocent in secret places. His eyes secretly watch for the afflicted,

9 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.

He lies in wait in a secret place, as a lion in a covert. He lies in wait to catch the poor, He catches the poor, drawing him into his net.

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

He is bruised—he bows down, The afflicted has fallen by his mighty ones.

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

He said in his heart, “God has forgotten, He has hid His face, He has never seen.”

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

Arise, O YHWH! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.

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

Why has the wicked despised God? He has said in his heart, “It is not required.”

14 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.

You have seen, For You behold perverseness and anger; By giving into Your hand, The afflicted leave [it] on You, You have been a helper of the fatherless.

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

Break the arm of the wicked and the evil, Seek out his wickedness, find none;

16 The Lord is King for ever and ever: nations are perished out of his land.

YHWH [is] King for all time and forever, The nations have perished out of His land!

17 The longing of the afflicted dost thou hear, O Lord! thou wilt strengthen their heart, thou wilt cause thy ear to listen:

You have heard the desire of the humble, O YHWH. You prepare their heart; You cause Your ear to attend,

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

To judge the fatherless and bruised: He adds no more to oppress—man of the earth!