Psalms 10

1 Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

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

2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.

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 boasts of his heart's cravings, and he blesses the greedy, scorning the LORD.

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

4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek. All his thoughts are "There is no God."

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 firm at all times. Your judgments are turned aside. As for all his adversaries, he sneers 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 says in his heart, "I shall not be shaken. From generation to generation I shall not experience calamity."

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 bitterness and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

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

8 He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.

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 lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in 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 The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.

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

11 He says in his heart, "God has forgotten. He hides 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, LORD. God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the helpless.

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

13 Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, "You will not seek (an accounting)."

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

14 But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and 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 the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

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

16 The LORD is King forever and ever. The nations have perished from his land.

The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: you Gentiles shall perish out 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 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 man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

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