Psalms 10

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

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

2 While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is hotly pursued: [the wicked] are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine.

Because of their arrogance, wicked people chase the oppressed; but please let the wicked be trapped by their own schemes that they have devised.

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

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

4 The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his pride he will not seek after [him]: God is not before him.

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.

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

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

6 For he has said in his heart, I shall not be moved, [continuing] without evil from generation to generation.

He says in his heart,” I will never fail; throughout all generations I will not meet adversity.”

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

His mouth is full of cursing and deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.

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

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

9 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14 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.

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.

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

Break the arm of the wicked and evil man. Make him account for his evil deeds, which he thought you would not discover.

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

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

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

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

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

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