Psalms 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 His ways are firm at all times. Your judgments are turned aside. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

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

6 He says in his heart, "I shall not be shaken. From generation to generation I shall not experience calamity."

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

7 His mouth is full of cursing and bitterness and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

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

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

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

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 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.

10 The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.

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

11 He says in his heart, "God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it."

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

12 Arise, LORD. God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the helpless.

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

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

For what doth the wicked despise God? [why] doth he say in his heart, Thou wilt 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.

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.

15 Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

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

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

The Lord is King for ever and ever: nations are perished out of 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 longing of the afflicted dost thou hear, O Lord! thou wilt strengthen their heart, thou wilt cause thy ear to listen:

18 to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

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