Psalms 10
1 Wherefore, O Lord, standest thou afar off? hidest thyself in times of distress?
Why do you stand, Lord, so far away, hiding yourself in times of trouble?
2 In the pride of the wicked doth he hotly pursue the poor: they are seized through the plans that those have devised.
The wicked, in their pride, are pursuing the helpless: let them be caught in the schemes they have plotted.
3 For the wicked boasteth of the longing of his soul, and the robber blesseth himself when he hath despised the Lord.
For the wicked boasts of their wanton greed; the robber despises the Lord, and curses him,
4 The wicked, according to the pride of his wrathfulness, [saith, ] He will not require, There is no God [in] all his plans.
in wicked pride, thinks: God doesn’t care, God doesn’t call to account.
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.
Never a season that they do not prosper; your judgments are far above out of their sight: they scoff at their foes.
6 He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; I shall be for many generations, and without adversity.
Each says in their heart, “I will never be shaken; I will live for all time untouched by misfortune.”
7 Of the false oaths is his mouth full, and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
Their mouths are full of deceit and oppression: under their tongues lurks mischief and wrong.
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.
Lying in secret in some village ambush, and stealthily watching, they murder the innocent.
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.
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 croucheth, he bendeth himself, and the unfortunate fall through his might.
Their victims are crushed, sink down to the ground. Under their claws the hapless fall.
11 He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten; he hath hidden his face; he will never see it.
The wicked say in their hearts that God has forgotten, has hidden his face, will see nothing.
12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the afflicted.
Arise, Lord, lift up your hand, do not forget the cry of the wretched.
13 For what doth the wicked despise God? [why] doth he say in his heart, Thou wilt not require it?
Why do the wicked treat God with contempt, and say in their hearts, “God doesn’t care”?
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 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 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 evil: search out their sin, till no more be found.
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever: nations are perished out of his land.
The Lord is king forever and ever: the nations will vanish from 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:
Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble, inclining your ear, strengthening their hearts,
18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that not farther more shall be arrogant the mortal from the earth.
rights you have won for the crushed and the orphan, so no one on earth may strike terror again.
