Psalms 10

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

Lord, why are you so distant? Why do you hide from me in times of trouble?

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

The wicked chase down the poor with impunity. May they be trapped by the evil schemes they themselves invented.

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

For the wicked boast about what they want to do. They praise the greedy, but treat the Lord with contempt.

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

The wicked are too proud to come to God. In all their thinking they never consider God.

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

What they do always seems to go well. They're unaware of God's judgments. They ridicule all their enemies.

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

They tell themselves, “Nothing bad is going to happen to me. I'll never be in trouble!”

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

Their speech is full of cursing, lies, and threats; their tongues are always ready to spread trouble and cause evil.

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

They hide out in ambush in the villages, ready to kill innocent passers-by. They are always on the lookout for their next victim.

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.

They lie in ambush like a lion ready to attack, ready to leap out from their hiding place to seize their victim. They capture the helpless, throwing a net over them.

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

Their victims are knocked down, laid low. They fall under the strength of the wicked.

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

They tell themselves, “God won't notice. He's looking the other way. He won't ever see anything.”

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

Take a stand, Lord! Raise your hand to strike! Don't forget those who can't defend themselves.

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

Why do the wicked think they can treat God with such contempt? Why do they think that God won't make them accountable?

14 But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.

But you do see the trouble and grief they cause. Take it into your own hands. The helpless trust in you; you defend the orphans.

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

Destroy the power of the wicked, those evil people! Call each of them to account until there are none left!

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

Lord, you are King forever and ever! The nations will vanish from their lands.

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

Lord, you have heard the longing cries of those who are suffering. You will encourage them, for you will listen to them.

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

You will defend the rights of orphans and the oppressed so that those who are mere human beings here on earth will never terrorize them again.