Psalms 10

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

Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?

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

Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise.

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

For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.

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

The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:

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

God is not before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times. Thy judgments are removed from his sight: he shall rule 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 hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.

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

His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.

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 ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent.

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.

His eyes are upon the poor man: He lieth in wait in secret like a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush that he may catch the poor man: to catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him.

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

In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.

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

For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.

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

Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.

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

Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath 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.

Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou wilt be 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 thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.

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

The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land.

17 YHWH, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,

The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard 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 judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.