Psalms 10
1 Why, Yahweh, do you stand far off? 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 Because of their arrogance, wicked people chase the oppressed; but please let the wicked be trapped by their own schemes that they have devised.
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 person boasts of his deepest desires; he blesses the greedy and insults Yahweh.
Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.
4 The wicked man has a raised face; he does not seek God. He never thinks about God because he does not care at all about him.
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 He is secure at all times, but your righteous decrees are too high for him; he snorts at all his enemies.
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 will never fail; throughout all generations I will not meet adversity.”
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 deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.
Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain.
8 He waits in ambush near the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; his eyes look for some helpless victim.
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 like a lion in the thicket; he lies in wait to catch the oppressed. He catches the oppressed when he pulls 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 His victims are crushed and beaten down; they fall into his strong nets.
He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.
11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten; he covers his face; he will not bother to look.”
For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.
12 Arise, Yahweh! Lift up your hand, God! Do not forget the oppressed.
Arise, O Lord God; let your hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.
13 Why does the wicked man reject God and say in his heart, “You will not hold me accountable”?
Therefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require [it].
14 You have taken notice, for you always see the one who inflicts the misery and sorrow. The helpless entrusts himself to you; you rescue 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 and evil man. Make him account for his evil deeds, which he thought you would not discover.
Break you the arm of the sinner and wicked man: his sin shall be sought for, and shall not be found.
16 Yahweh is King forever and ever; the nations are driven out of his land.
The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: you Gentiles shall perish out his land.
17 Yahweh, you have heard the needs of the oppressed; you strengthen their heart, you listen to their prayer;
The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: your ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;
18 You defend the fatherless and the oppressed so that no man on the earth will cause terror again.
to plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.
