Psalms 10
1 Lord, whi hast thou go fer awei? thou dispisist `in couenable tymes in tribulacioun.
Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 While the wickid is proud, the pore man is brent; thei ben taken in the counsels, bi whiche thei thenken.
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
3 Forwhi the synnere is preisid in the desiris of his soule; and the wickid is blessid.
For the wicked boasts of his heart's cravings, and he blesses the greedy, scorning the LORD.
4 The synnere `wraththide the Lord; vp the multitude of his ire he schal not seke.
The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek. All his thoughts are "There is no God."
5 God is not in his siyt; hise weies ben defoulid in al tyme. God, thi domes ben takun awei fro his face; he schal be lord of alle hise enemyes.
His ways are firm at all times. Your judgments are turned aside. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
6 For he seide in his herte, Y schal not be moued, fro generacioun in to generacioun without yuel.
He says in his heart, "I shall not be shaken. From generation to generation I shall not experience calamity."
7 `Whos mouth is ful of cursyng, and of bitternesse, and of gyle; trauel and sorewe is vndur his tunge.
His mouth is full of cursing and bitterness and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
8 He sittith in aspies with ryche men in priuytees; to sle the innocent man.
He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
9 Hise iyen biholden on a pore man; he settith aspies in hid place, as a lioun in his denne. He settith aspies, for to rauysche a pore man; for to rauysche a pore man, while he drawith the pore man.
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.
10 In his snare he schal make meke the pore man; he schal bowe hym silf, and schal falle doun, whanne he hath be lord of pore men.
The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
11 For he seide in his herte, God hath foryete; he hath turned awei his face, that he se not in to the ende.
He says in his heart, "God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it."
12 Lord God, rise thou vp, and thin hond be enhaunsid; foryete thou not pore men.
Arise, LORD. God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the helpless.
13 For what thing terride the wickid man God to wraththe? for he seide in his herte, God schal not seke.
Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, "You will not seek (an accounting)."
14 Thou seest, for thou biholdist trauel and sorewe; that thou take hem in to thin hondis. The pore man is left to thee; thou schalt be an helpere to the fadirles and modirles.
But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
15 Al to-breke thou the arme of the synnere, and yuel willid; his synne schal be souyt, and it schal not be foundun.
Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
16 The Lord schal regne with outen ende, and in to the world of world; folkis, ye schulen perische fro the lond of hym.
The LORD is King forever and ever. The nations have perished from his land.
17 The Lord hath herd the desir of pore men; thin eere hath herd the makyng redi of her herte.
LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
18 To deme for the modirles `and meke; that a man `leie to no more to `magnyfie hym silf on erthe.
to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
