Psalms 10

1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in times of trouble?

Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? [why] dost thou overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?

2 The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

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 boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.

Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.

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 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments [are] far above out of his sight: [as for] all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

His ways are profane at all times; thy judgments are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] never [be] in 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 deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity.

Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

He lies in wait with rich [men] in secret places, in order to slay the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into 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 He croucheth, [and] humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see [it].

For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the humble.

Arise, O Lord God; let thy hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.

13 Why doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it].

Wherefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require [it].

14 Thou hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite [it] with thy hand: the poor committeth himself to thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

Thou seest [it]; for thou dost observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into thy hands: the poor has been left to thee; thou wast a helper to the orphan.

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou shalt find none.

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

16 The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the heathen have perished out of his land.

The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish out his land.

17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thy ear to hear:

The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: thine ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

to plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.