Psalms 10

1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest thou thyself 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 Through the haughtiness of the wicked the poor are in distress; They are caught in the wiles which are contrived for them.

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

3 The wicked boasteth of his heart's desire; The rapacious renounceth and contemneth Jehovah.

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

4 The wicked [[saith]] in his haughtiness, “He careth not!” 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 course is always prosperous; Far in the heights are thy judgments from him; As for all his enemies, he puffeth 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 saith in his heart, “I shall never fall; I shall never be in adversity.”

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 perjury, deceit, and oppression; Mischief and injustice are upon his tongue.

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

8 He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; In secret places doth he murder the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed upon the poor.

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

9 He secretly lieth in wait, like a lion in a thicket; He lieth in wait to seize upon the helpless; He catcheth the poor, drawing him into 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 He croucheth, and lowereth himself, And the wretched fall into his paws.

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

11 He saith in his heart, “God doth forget; He hideth his face; he doth 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, O LORD! O God, lift up thine hand: Forget not the distressed!

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

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, And say in his heart, “He careth not for it”?

Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it.

14 Thou dost see it; yea, thou beholdest malice and oppression, And markest it upon thy hand! The poor committeth himself to thee; Thou art the helper of 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 thou the arm of the unjust and wicked man; Seek out his wickedness, till thou canst find none!

Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.

16 Jehovah is king for ever and ever; The gentiles shall perish out of his land.

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

17 Thou, O LORD! wilt hear the desires of the distressed; Thou wilt strengthen their hearts; Thou wilt lend a listening ear!

The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.

18 Thou wilt maintain the cause of the fatherless and the oppressed, That henceforth none may be driven from the land.

To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.