Psalms 10

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

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

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.

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 person boasts of his deepest desires; he blesses the greedy and insults Yahweh.

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

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

5 He is secure at all times, but your righteous decrees are too high for him; he snorts at all his enemies.

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 will never fail; throughout all generations I will not meet adversity.”

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 deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.

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

8 He waits in ambush near the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; his eyes look for some helpless victim.

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 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 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 His victims are crushed and beaten down; they fall into his strong nets.

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

11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten; he covers his face; he will not bother to look.”

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

12 Arise, Yahweh! Lift up your hand, God! Do not forget the oppressed.

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

13 Why does the wicked man reject God and say in his heart, “You will not hold me accountable”?

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

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 and evil man. Make him account for his evil deeds, which he thought you would not discover.

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

16 Yahweh is King forever and ever; the nations are driven out of his land.

The Lord is King for ever and ever: nations are perished out of his land.

17 Yahweh, you have heard the needs of the oppressed; you strengthen their heart, you listen to their prayer;

The longing of the afflicted dost thou hear, O Lord! thou wilt strengthen their heart, thou wilt cause thy ear to listen:

18 You defend the fatherless and the oppressed so that no man on the earth will cause terror again.

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